KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — Datuk Shahrir Samad, the minister who has faced the brunt of criticism over oil prices, courted even more controversy today when he suggested Malaysians were greedy if they expected subsidies to continue.
The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, whose job is to regulate prices, said subsidies are meant to only cushion the burden of high prices.
"When prices come down it will just be greed on the part of consumers to insist that they be subsidised," he said.
Shahrir's comments come as more Malaysians have accused the government of reneging on the promise to maintain a 30-sen subsidy on petrol and diesel.
While the government continues to subsidise diesel, it has stopped subsidies on petrol sales.
A quirk in the method in which pump prices are set and the steep drop in global oil prices have now resulted in the government collecting a "tax" through revenue gained from the difference between pump prices and the actual market price.
"It is not that we are not keeping our word. It is because the drop in prices has been faster than the 30-sen subsidy," he said.
He said it would be destructive to bring down prices quickly, but he offered no explanation for such an argument.
The minister also brushed aside suggestions that consumers were now subsidising the government.
"The Government collects taxes. It is Government revenue. When the price is high, that is when the Government extends it as subsidy," he said.
Oil prices have played a major part in Malaysian politics over the past year.
The opposition successfully used rising oil prices as an effective weapon against the ruling Barisan Nasional government in the March general election.
Playing on widespread dissatisfaction over rising oil prices then, the opposition succeeded in wresting five state governments and also denied for the first time in the country's history BN's two-thirds parliamentary majority.
While pump prices have fallen sharply recently because of a softening global economic outlook widespread unhappiness remains because the government has effectively removed subsidies on petrol sales.

written by DeltaP, November 25, 2008
written by AuntyG, November 25, 2008
The "rest of the world" are greedy bcos they poor and hungry, or find it difficult to manage in these challenging times of economic crunch. Probably Shahrir has forgotten what hardship is, you lucky bloke!
written by ml, November 25, 2008
written by Stop The Nonsense, November 25, 2008
The natural resources of this country belongs to the citizens. So how come only PETRONAS is benefiting from it and none of the citizens are enjoying any of the perks that come with the resources? Why should we be taxed on things that belong to us while only certain individuals enjoy the full benefits; including the government. If that's the case, we shouldn't be paying income tax since we're being taxed on our natural resources.
You might argue that every other country in this world impose taxes on their citizens. BUT AT LEAST THE PEOPLE OF OTHER NATIONS ENJOY FAR BETTER LIVING CONDITIONS WITH MUCH HIGHER BUYING POWER. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T REALISE, THE RINGGIT IS BECOMING RUBBISH.
I don't mind paying taxes, but WHERE THE HELL DOES ALL OUR MONEY GO TO? IF YOU SAY OUR TAX RATE IS MUCH LOWER AND OUR GOVERNMENT HAS LESS MONEY TO SPEND, HOW COME OUR MINISTERS CAN LIVE JUST AS LAVISHLY AS MINISTERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES???????????? OUR TAX MONEY CANNOT GIVE US BETTER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION? BETTER SECURITY? THEN THE MINISTERS SHOULD STOP GOING AROUND IN BRAND NEW MERCEDES VEHICLES, LIVE IN APARTMENTS, SHOP AT HYPERMARKETS AND SO ON. IF THE LIVES OF MALAYSIAN CITIZENS ARE NOT GOOD ENOUGH TO ENJOY ALL THESE, IT SHOULD ALSO BE THE CASE FOR THE MINISTERS SINCE WE ARE THE ONES PAYING FOR EVERYTHING THEY EARN AND OWN.
OUR DAMN BUDGET HAS TRIPLED SINCE 10 YEARS AGO. HOW MANY OF YOU OUT THERE CAN SAY THE SAME FOR YOUR SALARIES. IF THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO TRIPLE THE BUDGET IN ORDER TO 'RUN' THE COUNTRY, I DON'T KNOW WHY THE CITIZENS DO NOT NEED TRIPLE THEIR SALARIES TO SURVIVE. IT'S TIME WE STOPPED CUTTING DOWN ON WHAT WE HAVE JUST SO SOME MORONS CAN HAVE MORE.
written by JP, November 25, 2008
and raped our country's resources. Your mismanagement brought Malaysia to where
it is today.
Don't point the finger at us without examining your own faults first.
Or do you want the 2 million young new voters to vote you out of power in the next election.
Stop the BN arrogance!
written by shocking, November 25, 2008
how can anyone be more greedy than your umnoputras !? you rent seekers are in a class of your own.
written by Frederick Foo, November 25, 2008
written by focussed08, November 25, 2008
written by Ken Ling, November 25, 2008
we have the right to greedy !!!
written by noobie, November 25, 2008
with such high standard of living n a public infrastructure that barely (or is it hardly) in par... asking for a subsidy for petrol.. the driving fuel for the workforce (waking up 5 in the morning.. making sure to reach the bus stop by 6.. just to reach office by 8.30 is not the way i wan to go to work; thats y people prefer to drive)
i feel like u are trying to incite a riot by provoking the citizens... are you not a malaysian? do you agree that u are greedy as well?
written by JJ, November 25, 2008
If he cannot, he will just have to admit that he got it wrong and keep to his word of maintaining the subsidy. If anything, at least it will buffer the increase in food prices.
Cheers.
written by amoker, November 25, 2008
written by Felix, November 25, 2008
Oil and other natural resources belong to the rakyat - there is no need for the govt to subsidise us! Subsidy to us means we buy something at RM1.00 and sell it below RM1.00 - then this is truly a subsidy!
List Petronas and give shares to all of us. Make it into a close fund where only our citizens can own the shares. This way, profits can be given to us by way of dividends. There is no need for any subsidy from the government.
We hear Petronas give billions and billions of royalty to the government, Trengganu, Sabah and Sarawak every year. But, we do not see any progress. Where has all the money gone to or siphoned off? Go to the Malay kampungs, Chinese new villages, rubber estates - you will understand what I mean.
What a contrast when we noticed many politician children become multi millionaires/billionaires. Division Chiefs of political parties living luxuriously in big houses, driving big cars and eating and enjoying good food in famous restaurants! And more, we see politicians spend thousands and millions of dollars just to win a post in a party. How are they going to get back all these money spent or invested? We rakyat shudder and tremble at the thoughts!
Sharir - if you and your gang of politicians can contribute 10% of your wealth to help the poor rakyat who are sufferring the most in these trying times, then we will be forever in your debt! The billions contributed will help us tie over this period of bad times.
Please, please do not accuse us of being greedy. We loyal rakyat has been very tolerant and has kept our slience over the excesses perpetrated during the past 50 years or more. We want to see you support an independant ACA to clean up the mess accumulated over the years!
Lead us by example by being an effective leader rather than criticise us loyal rakyat as being greedy!
written by Damocles, November 25, 2008
But it's not destructive to raise the prices quickly!!!!
What a bloody MORON!!
written by Confused Malaysian, November 25, 2008
Hi Shahrir, pls explain why it would be "destructive".
If it can help to lessen rakyat's burden, how can it be "destructive"?
written by ma lay sia, November 25, 2008
written by scrutinizer, November 25, 2008
The UMNO/BN govt have never keep their words anyway! They always twist & turn and force the rakyat to swallow anything they say. The govt should use the sharp price plunge to lower fuel prices to benefit the rakyat, not maintain a floor price & make money.
When the fuel price is high, they say they are going to do away with the subsidy, but when the price is low, with NO subsidy, they impose the fuel tax instead. With such low crude oil price, I think even diesel subsidy is also withdrawn.
written by malaysia boleh, November 25, 2008
written by Chan, November 25, 2008
written by Tony Woo, November 25, 2008
written by Daniel Chang, November 25, 2008
Remember today, remember well to cast your vote 4 years down the road. It looks like we did not punish them (BN-MCA-MIC& the gang) enough during 080308. This is a very un-statementship statement, we shall condemn Sharir political career forever from today onward.
Never ever vote any BN members to the government.
We love Malaysia
written by Wakdoh, November 25, 2008
He could not bring down the petrol price quickily because most of the petrol stations especially Petronas belong to UMNO cronies. They need to earn from the rakyat. Afterall, it is their claimed rights of Ketuanan.
written by rocky, November 25, 2008
these govt is only keen to help the rich and the connected and tax the rakyat. are they really keen to help the rakyat?
BTW who is greedy? we must be the only oil producing country that is paying taxes on fuel IMHO. some other oil producing countries, hey don't even need to pay taxes lets alone true prices for fuel!!!! what you say BN and Shahrir Samad...who is greedy???
written by simon, November 26, 2008
You are just a government servant and paid by all of us (rakyat).. the way you said it seem that we own government a favor... All the taxes, epf, and collection is rakyat money. if you cant do a good job and blame on us.. Please go.. nobody ask you to do the work. if you cant.. please quit.
rgds
written by silly me, November 26, 2008
maybe it's time for those living in johor to drive to singapore for fuel, and those in the thai-malaysia border to get fuel from the neighbours...
written by Calvin, November 26, 2008
written by keano, November 27, 2008





But i will give it to you la... Since you've got the back up of the corrupted government, you really do not have to watch your words one bit.