Kuala Lampur, May 19 -- Of late, there has been intense debate over BUDI95, particularly on whether subsidised fuel should be extended to the T20 group, whether the income threshold should be narrowed, and how the mechanism should ultimately be implemented in light of the country's growing subsidy bill.

But beyond subsidies and income brackets lies a bigger question: is Malaysia's dependence on private cars and cheap petrol still sustainable in the long run?

The truth is that the Government is now spending some RM6 billion to RM7 billion per month on subsidies following the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. This is up from about RM700 million in January before the conflict in West Asia started.

This is not sustainable in the long run. ...