Youth laud move to hike fuel prices for foreigners
Fill it up: A petrol station attendant assists a motorist in this file photo. Picture: BT file photo
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
SOME youths favour the government's move to stop subsidising the fuel purchases of foreign motorists.
Amalina, a student at the Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College, said it was a good move. She lauded authorities and said the subsidised fuel should be restricted to local motorists only.
A Universiti Brunei Darussalam student, who wished to be identified only as Hj Khairul, had a different opinion.
He said the directive should have encompassed all cars and not just foreign motorists.
He said Bruneians have it easy, noting he has friends from overseas, who are struggling with the soaring oil prices.
"I personally think that we should have increased the fuel prices for locals as well. I believe that the majority of Bruneians are still rather ignorant of the fact that oil and gas in Brunei will run out by 2035 and efforts to diversify the economy has been moving at a slow pace. What better way to wake them up than the smell of increasing fuel prices," he said.
"In some ways, it (fuel price hike) would bother some of the students, or youths in general," he said.
He noted that most popular spots in Gadong are frequented by young people who drive. Raising fuel prices, he said, in some ways can ease traffic congestion. "We also do our part in saving the environment with fewer cars around."
Hafiz Anwar, another university student who is back for his summer holidays, suggested that perhaps authorities could increase fuel prices for local motorists a little bit.
Bruneians, he said, are "quite spoiled in my point of view".
He said if surging fuel prices have been causing problems outside the country, increasing local fuel prices will cause quite an uproar.
"Bruneians in general, I think, do not like the idea of change. They like routine and basking in the fruits of their hardwork. And to increase the prices will affect them deeply, but I think it will do us, Bruneians some good," he said.
Airlines have increased fuel surcharges seemingly without causing an uproar.
"I don't see why we cannot afford to pay for a few extra cents more?"
The Brunei Times
Amalina, a student at the Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College, said it was a good move. She lauded authorities and said the subsidised fuel should be restricted to local motorists only.
A Universiti Brunei Darussalam student, who wished to be identified only as Hj Khairul, had a different opinion.
He said the directive should have encompassed all cars and not just foreign motorists.
He said Bruneians have it easy, noting he has friends from overseas, who are struggling with the soaring oil prices.
"I personally think that we should have increased the fuel prices for locals as well. I believe that the majority of Bruneians are still rather ignorant of the fact that oil and gas in Brunei will run out by 2035 and efforts to diversify the economy has been moving at a slow pace. What better way to wake them up than the smell of increasing fuel prices," he said.
"In some ways, it (fuel price hike) would bother some of the students, or youths in general," he said.
He noted that most popular spots in Gadong are frequented by young people who drive. Raising fuel prices, he said, in some ways can ease traffic congestion. "We also do our part in saving the environment with fewer cars around."
Hafiz Anwar, another university student who is back for his summer holidays, suggested that perhaps authorities could increase fuel prices for local motorists a little bit.
Bruneians, he said, are "quite spoiled in my point of view".
He said if surging fuel prices have been causing problems outside the country, increasing local fuel prices will cause quite an uproar.
"Bruneians in general, I think, do not like the idea of change. They like routine and basking in the fruits of their hardwork. And to increase the prices will affect them deeply, but I think it will do us, Bruneians some good," he said.
Airlines have increased fuel surcharges seemingly without causing an uproar.
"I don't see why we cannot afford to pay for a few extra cents more?"
The Brunei Times
Business Besides Oil
