Oil Hike Protest Hits Kajang

22 Jun 2008, Kajang

Around 200 people participated in a peaceful protest against the oil hike and the increase in all basic necessities at Jalan Semenyih, right in front of Shell and Petronas station. The protest led by Parti Sosialis Malaysia and PROTES continued peacefully for about an hour since 11am today with full cooperation from the Kajang police.

Continuously the people chanted slogans like "oil increase, rice increase, salary did not increase" and they demanded the government to reduce oil price or to step down. There were also banners and many placards calling the government to reduce oil price and implement minimum wage since the living cost has gone up badly.

The protest was also filled with speeches from various groups. JERIT speaker, Comrade Parames highlighted the fact that the privatization of all basic needs such as water and electricity add misery to people with the current inflation. While Dr. Muhammad of Hizbut Tahrir Malaysia said the government's decision to increase oil price is unacceptable since we are oil-producing country unlike our neighbor Singapore. Comrade Sevan, the treasurer of PSM Kajang countered Deputy Prime Minister, Najib's statement to change life style. He cynically called the people to start eating dry fish and let our children walk to school instead of taking bus. Well, he is right to feel angry when people like Najib and other ministers stay rich and live luxuriously, it is always the downtrodden that are further pushed to the corner during economic crisis.

Comrade Abu Kassim, in his speech said that the protest would continue until the government reduces the oil price or the government itself steps down. As a secretariat member of PROTEST coalition, he took the opportunity to introduce new red t-shirt, a color of uprising, which everyone is encouraged to wear for the upcoming one million people protest at Padang Timur Petaling Jaya, on 6th July 2008. This was followed by Comrade Ramalinggam of PSM who was angry with the government for failing to control the price of basic items and putting the people into more misery.

Comrade Arutchelvan, the secretary general of PSM condemned the current capitalist government who only upheld the interest of business class and thus continuously failing the people. He questioned the government for spending Petronas profit on wasteful projects like Grandprix, Putra Jaya and Twin Tower instead of improving the public transport system. Finally, Comrade Muhammad Sani of Selangor PAS Youth leader accused the government of not fulfilling election promises, which is not to increase the oil price. In between the speeches, organizers urged the people to spread news on PSM's upcoming oil hike protest at Semenyih and Nilai on 29 Jun 2008.

Petrol price was increased 97.1% since 2004 while diesel increased 231%. Our current inflation is now at 4.2%, the highest. These are official figures whereby unofficial figures are much higher. With such situation, possibility of more people losing jobs is high as we see in most of the European countries. Poverty rate would increase. Number of school going children might drop and dropouts might increase. Crime rate, domestic violence and depression level would increase. This is what the capitalist system has to offer but this time the economic crisis would prolong as it combine together with food crisis, environment crisis, oil crisis and on top of that in Malaysia, our 50 years government is in crisis. The only way out is for the people to change the corrupt capitalist government to a system that puts people before profit.

Released by,
Letchimi Devi