Miracle of Permatang Pauh - fuel price drop!

So ….. Malaysiakini told us what we have been expecting … ;-) … a fuel price drop just in time for the Permatang Pauh by-election day - wakakaka

The headlines screamed Gov't slashes petrol price by 15 sen, where the Malaysiakini news article reported PM AAB giving the rationale … yadda yadda … for the reduction in fuel prices.

Such a political attempt to gain an advantage (usually near an election) is a universal practice, and not only unique to Malaysia ….. but what will be the voters’ reaction to the announcement?

Leaving aside those acolytes, party faithful and supporters already committed on both sides of the political fence, some would be cynical about the coincidental lowering of fuel price whilst a few may be ‘persuaded’ ….. and every bit of such ‘a few persuaded’ matters lots, and would be most welcomed by Arif Shah, the BN candidate, in his battle against his by-election opponent, the Godzilla of Malaysian politics.

Immediately Anwar Ibrahim responded, stating the obvious reason for the lowering of the fuel price.

Then he added: "The government can reduce it further if it can be more transparent in its financial management, eliminate leakages, wastages and corruption."

Earlier there were accusations of our Olympic silver medallist Lee being ‘used’ to boost the BN credentials, and no doubt about it, there's substance in those accusstions, but Penang’s CM Lim GE also upped the ante by promising a Datukship to the young badminton star.

They say “all’s fair in love and war” but you may bet that nothing was, has been, is, nor will be ‘fair’ in the very sense of the word as we understand it.

But that's what makes election campaigning interesting, with plenty of material for kongsamkok indulgence at kopitiam around the country.

At a personal level, I don’t like the idea of awarding Datukship to young people like badminton or squash stars, or a cross-English channel swimmer. Maybe a medal of some high order (in the sporting class) would do.

I had hoped that with a DAP government in the Penang seat, the practice of Datukship would be curtailed if not stopped entirely.

My only consolation is that in a DAP Penang, at least the Datukships aren’t being ‘sold’ like ta pau (bungkus; packaged) nasi lemak to rich but undeserving (or even dodgy) candidates.

Anyway enough of serious talk - it being a Saturday, what about a story on fuel, and gasp, gawd, omigosh it has a Catholic flavour to it too ;-) – so I dedicate it specially to the Catholic sweeties - wakakaka.

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Sister X* Teresa L* - ;-) I know two, wakakaka – from Holy Spirit Penang, was out making her rounds visiting homebound patients when she ran out of fuel.

Due to high fuel price she had put in only the minimum in her tank, but failed to recall that the last time she visited a petrol station was some days ago.

As luck would have it, a Petronas petrol station was just a short distance away. She walked to the station to borrow a petrol can and buy some fuel.

But the attendant (a Burmese migrant worker who was formerly a doctor - wakakaka) told her that the only petrol can he owned had been loaned out, but could Sis wait until it was returned?

Since Sister Teresa was on the way to see a senior citizen, she decided not to wait and walked back to her car. Being a resourceful sweetie (of the church, of course - wakakaka) she looked for something in her car that she could use as a substitute to the petrol can.

Aha, she spotted the brand new bedpan she had promised, and purchased for, the senior citizen she would be visiting. Well, Sis thought, “I’ll use this; I can always wash it later".

So the sweet Sister carried the bedpan to the station, filled it with petrol, and carried the full bedpan back to her car.

As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two Baptists watched from across the street.

One of them turned to the other and said, "If it starts, I'm turning Catholic."

7 loaves and fish ... and a bedpan of petrol! ;-)

Hallelujah!