*Full text of a speech by DAP National Vice Chairman Teresa Kok at the DAP Melaka Annual Convention on 7th December 2014 at Kota Melaka

1. Why was advance payment made to petroleum companies?

On Dec 1, RON 95 and diesel have been placed under the managed float system with no government subsidy. RON 97, the premium grade was already placed under the system since 2010.

The new fuel prices effective on Dec 1 for RON 95, RON 97 and diesel are RM 2.26 ( reduction of 4 sen ) , RM 2.46 ( reduction of 9 sen ) and RM 2.23 ( increase of 3 sen ) .
The new prices have raised three questions where till today the government has not provided satisfactory answer or has not replied at all.

The first question that the public have demanded an explanation is why diesel price has gone up when world crude oil has dropped 40 % from $ 112 per barrel in June?

On Dec 1, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek has given two explanations, firstly too much subsidy was already given and it cost more to produce diesel. Two days ago, Minister in the Prime Minister’s department Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar explained the reason was because the government subsidy of 11 sen for diesel was removed.
Why different answers from two Ministers?

I have also raised the question with regard to why RON 95 is not priced much lower than RM 2.26.

According to previous statements issued by former Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in June 2012 and by present deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan on October 31 this year, a sales tax of RM 58 sen per litre has been imposed on RON 97 but such tax is forgone for RON 95.

Both types of petrol are now not subsidised by government. Since RON 95 does not have any sales tax imposed, why is it that its price is only lower than RON 97 by twenty sen, and not much lower?

I have asked the government whether a sales tax has been quietly imposed on RON 95 and if not , what are the real factors causing RON 95 not priced much lower than the RM 2.26 set on Dec 1?

Till today, there has been no explanation at all.

The third question I like to raise today is –why advanced payment was paid to the petroleum companies?

On Oct 31, during the ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of Mohamad Noh Community Centre in Jelutong Laut , Pontian, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan has said the following:-

“The problem now is to get back the RM23.5 billion last year and RM21 billion this year paid to petroleum companies to enable us to reduce the price of petrol”.
Does this mean that advanced payment was already paid to the petroleum companies? If so, what the government should do is to get back the money and reduce petrol and diesel price.

Even if it takes time to get back the money, this is no justification for the government not to reduce the petrol and diesel first.

Malaysians want answers and the government cannot remain silent. If necessary, I will pursue these questions when the Parliament meets next year.

2. Can the Prime Minister who broke his promise be trusted?

The favorite BN slogans are 1 Malaysia and Janji di tepati. But the hate speeches made at recent Umno Assembly as well the Prime Minister’s broken promise to repeal the draconian Sedition Act have rendered such slogans hollow and meaningless.

Datuk Seri Najib, when defining 1 Malaysia concept has said before: “We stand, we think and act as a nation of Malaysia. One People. And we take actions based on the needs of all ethnic groups in our country….. .”

Did the speeches made by Umno leaders and delegates reflect any or real commitment to 1 Malaysia concept? The answer is obvious. The concept is in tatters.

And how could a prime minister break his promise? It is no wonder that netizens have often joked that BN’s slogan is Janji di capati.

Actually Malaysians ought not be surprised at all that Najib has broken his promise because if he was committed to repeal the archaic law, he certainly would not have allowed his administration to chalk up the most number of sedition prosecutions in the nation’s history.

After the Umno Assembly, he said that the enforcement of the Sedition Act must be fair and according to law.

How does he expect the public to trust him when he has just broken his 2012 promise to repeal the Act?

3. PR and DAP must work hard to topple BN in the next general election

During his winding up speech at the Umno Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin has said that BN could lose federal power by only a 2 % drop in votes.
This is the only good news that has come out of the Umno Assembly. But Umno will definitely go all out to retain power.

PR and DAP must henceforth make all out efforts to ensure that our politically messages are effectively spread to the people and that all levels of our organization are totally prepared for the next general election when the time comes to do the great battle .

BN has done enough damage to this beloved nation and we must work hard to topple BN in the next general election.

Let there be a new Putrajaya government in the next general election to bring about a new Malaysia that is better for all Malaysians.