Change lifestyle or change government...

The image right shows Malaysian protesters complaining against the recent oil price hike. The government said the people must change their lifestyles to adjust the price hike but the banner right says the people's response to that is to "change government".

In the past two Fridays, thousands of Malaysians gathered at Petronas Twin Towers to protest against the increase in petrol prices. The opposition parties and non-governmental groups are also planning two more anti-government rallies on March 19 and 26.

The government’s reaction to the first protest on March 3 was to instruct the local media not to report it, which they all complied. The police just sat back and watched the protesters.

The protesters demand that the nation's leaders either resign or reverse a recent fuel price hike.

Then on March 10, with a larger and angrier crowd to deal with, the police fired water cannon to break up the rally. See Paul Ooi’s blog for a detailed eye-witness account of what happened at the rally and for more photographs.

Again the Malaysian media failed to report anything about the protest or the police action.

I don’t see the Malaysian media reporting on the two remaining rallies either even though the participants might be more than the previous ones.

However I see a stronger participation by the police and the ministers – in demanding that people don’t protest, and if they do, they will have to be responsible for any police action!

At the same time, the government is also engaged in its charm offensive by embarking on a public-relations exercise to justify the rises and said it would announce measures to offset the effects.

But questions do remain. Like what will happen to the RM4.4 billion that the government will save as a result of this price hike? Will it go for public projects or to bail out GLCs?

Backgrounder:

The price of petrol and diesel was raised by 30 sen per litre to about RM1.90 and RM1.58 respectively in the biggest of five hikes since May 2004.

Pump prices remain lower than in neighbouring nations, but the move touched off public outrage. Malaysia is a net oil exporter, public transport is poor and people are dependent on their vehicles.

Below are some photographs that the Malaysian media missed - courtesy of reuters and ap.