A 24-page full-colour booklet concerning the recent fuel hike has been launched by the Coalition Protesting Against Fuel Hike (Protes).

The booklet entitled, Fuel Hike: Truth & Questions, comes complete with background on the matter and up-to-date figures from recent government reports.

The conclusion of the booklet begs the question: With national petroleum giant Petronas' profits rising in tandem with soaring global crude oil prices, shouldn't its profits be used to subsidise fuel prices and lowering cost of living for the average Malaysian?

Not only was the government management of Petronas' earnings scrutinised, the booklet probes deeply the government's advice to the public to 'change lifestyle'.

It is argued in the booklet that almost two-thirds of the Malaysian public will not be able to 'change lifestyle' because they are earning RM2,000 and less.

Scomi to gain?

The booklet further alleged that a potential winner out of the government's decision to channel RM4.4 billion 'saved' from the subsidy reductions would be none other than Scomi Group Bhd, a company owned by Kamaluddin Abdullah, son of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Based on a news report, Scomi's engineering subsidiary is said to be bidding for a lucrative RM120 million project to build body parts for 400 buses, capitalising on the RM4.4 billion trust fund set up to improve the country's public transport system.

"The question is, how well will the public transport system be managed if the whole operation is monopolised by children of ministers. Will it succeed in being implemented completely and giving the best quality of services as hoped for by the public, or conversely bring complications," the booklet queried.

E-book

Main coordinator of the project and PAS central committee member Dr Hatta Ramli said that 50,000 copies of the booklet have been printed while 20,000 copies have been distributed nationwide thus far.

Members of Protes include a number of other opposition parties, NGOs and student groups.

Copies of the booklet were also distributed to the public at yesterday's Labour Day gathering at KLCC park.

Those who would like to know how to obtain a copy of the booklet are advised to call Protes Sekretariat at 03 4025 4740 or send an email to proteshargaminyak@yahoo.com.

A full copy of the booklet can be obtained at this website. Hatta also encourages concerned members of the public to make copies of the booklet from the website and distribute it to their friends and family.