Kick our subsidy addiction for sustainable long-term growth

For one thing, it is enjoyed by large corporations and the top 20 percent of the population, who don't need it.

Mercedes Benz drivers have more to gain from petrol subsidies than Perodua drivers - their vehicles consume more fuel, due to larger engine capacities and therefore they get more savings.

It also means most of us don't think twice about driving absolutely anywhere and everywhere - even to places we could easily walk to.

There are people who refuse to consider using public transport to work, simply because we can afford our own cars, thanks largely to the fuel subsidy.

Thus, our consumer behaviour is not dictated by market forces, but by artificially low prices due to long-standing subsidies.

There are a growing number of Malaysians who talk about migrating abroad to developed countries like the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom.

Well, if they were to move there, there would be no subsidies for them to enjoy.

Developed countries simply do not have subsidies like we do, instead they have targeted subsidies which assist the bottom 40 percent of their population in terms of income.

As we head closer towards developed nation status, our attitudes must also change and we cannot continue to have the developing nation mentality.

We quite simply have to cut our addiction to subsidies.

Despite the latest fuel subsidy rationalisation which came into effect on Oct 2, the government would still need to fork out more than RM21 billion on RON95, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas subsidies this year.

It is abundantly clear that the huge subsidies are messing with our national budget.