Stop grumbling and find solutions instead

WE have choices. We always do. And here is definitely a situation that requires us to decide what to do next: Continue grumbling about last week’s fuel hike and its impact, or accept that sometimes our sentiments cannot overturn reality and we should adapt accordingly?

We have grown accustomed to low petrol and diesel prices although oil is a depleting commodity and the world never seems to get enough of it.

The Government’s annual bill for fuel subsidies is huge – RM24bil last year – and this makes it hard to narrow the fiscal deficit.

If the deficit is not reduced by a meaningful extent soon, there will be painful consequences for the Government, the economy and, of course, us.

Subsidies are bad if they encourage inefficiency and wastefulness, and if the undeserving enjoy them as well.

All these realities were at the core of the Government’s decision to cut fuel subsidies on Sept 2 and increase the prices of RON95 petrol and diesel by 20 sen per litre. It was a way to rationalise subsidies to trim the fiscal deficit.

Naturally, people are unhappy about having to pay more for petrol and diesel, and quick to express worry about the inevitable rise in prices of other goods and services.

Is that all that we can do – complain and fret about the impact of the fuel hike? That cannot be so; we are not as helpless and insignificant as some of us think.

It is time we become disciplined, enlightened and empowered consumers.

We should start by being more conscious and responsible in how we use energy (and not just petrol and diesel, because the demand and supply for the various energy resources are entwined).

Do we jump into the car and drive short distances when we can walk instead?

Do we prefer to move around in our own vehicles although we have the option of car pooling?

Are we careless in our electricity consumption? How often do we think about energy-saving solutions?

Far too often, we place convenience ahead of conservation. We take for granted that electricity will always flow when we flip a switch. Some of us talk about subsidised petrol as if it is a birthright.

Fuel subsidies feed such a mindset. That is a handicap when you consider we may one day have to pay market prices when we refill at petrol stations.

It is best we start learning from now to cope with the fact that energy is a terrible thing to waste.

Also, as consumers, we can strike a blow against profiteering by refusing to be customers of opportunistic businessmen.

If a coffeeshop charges an extra 20 sen for a cup of teh O in response to the fuel hike, why go back there? After all, whether or not to swallow that ridiculous price increase, the choice is yours.