My Longkang

I was at the market this morning and I noticed a retailer had hiked up her price. She is being opportunistic. I am sure her costs haven’t gone up. However I didn’t create a scene. I just left and told her I changed my mind. The next retailer was selling at the old price.

Compilation of opinions of petrol price hike:

Bella ( single 35 year-old lady ) : I will wake up early to cook, have it for breakfast and lunch. I have no choice. Everything has gone up and with this price hike, everything is going up. I cannot really afford to use my motorcycle now. I just use it to work and back. I work in town so for running errands, I walk. I pay Rm1.00 on toll to the Lanang Bridge operator every day. I cannot escape that.

I had planned to go to Kuching for the weekend. Now I will have to cancel. Difficult times are ahead.

Adeline : ( 40 year-old mother of four ) : I went marketing yesterday at Everwin and bought as much as I could of essential and toiletries, cooking oil, biscuits, rice etc. I am sure I have saved some money. Nothing will be wasted as my children will consume it anyway. It is only a matter of time before everything goes up.

I wanted to rear chickens at the back but my mother-in-law scolded me. What is wrong with that? No such thing as class. We all got to eat. If the government cannot take care of you, you got to take care of yourself. I will be planting some tomatoes and ladies finger soon.

As for my car, I cannot stop using it. I need to send my children to and from school. I will not allow the air-conditioner to be used any more except when there are guests in the car.

Anson : ( 50s male MLM executive ) I will cancel my booking for a MPV. I am not sure if I can do that without losing some money. I will get a Myvi

Ngu ( mid 40s store keeper ) : I will buy a motor-cycle. I have to carry my two sons at the back but there is no choice. I cannot afford to drive any more my Kancil as the fuel price has gone up. Everything is going to go up.

Wong ( late 40s businessman ): Won’t sound nice lah but I will not lose out. The govt hike up by 10% , I hike up by 50%. It is the wage earners who are going to die. Look at my tummy. It is getting bigger. Life is always easy for us tauke hahaha.

Nelson ( early thirties male sales ) : I worry I might lose my job. The business is very competitive. My boss will surely think of ways to cut costs. The market is going to shrink .

Rachaelinda : I don’t know how I am going to cope. I don’t know. Maybe I send my children back to the longhouse.

Clement ( early 40s successful family man ) : I am an engineer. You think I can simply up my fees? Yet, I will have to face a higher cost of living.

Ah Tat ( late thirties neatly dressed man ) : Customers scold me. They say I cheat them. Say I charge them too expensive. I am almost running at a loss. I have overheads. Too expensive no body will come. With this new round of price hikes, I might just give up. There is no choice. People will be eating out less any way. Even if they do, they will order a plate of noodles or something, not the dinner cuisine.

BK Wong ( early sixties male ) : My pension is getting smaller and smaller. Luckily my daughter is good to me. My son, he is useless. If not for my daughter, my wife and I will be in difficult times.

Charles ( late thirties single, professional ) : I will spend nothing, except on the most basic essentials.

Benghui : Give me money . Give me, daddy