(Andai air kencing itu semahal dan seumpama petrol!)

[REUTERS] 31 August - Oil prices fell nearly 4 percent to below $70 a barrel on Monday as fear of a curb in Chinese bank lending dented optimism about the pace of economic recovery and a potential rebound in global energy demand.

U.S. crude for October delivery settled down $2.78, or 3.8 percent, at $69.96 a barrel, having fallen as low as $69.13 in intraday trade. In London, Brent crude settled down $3.14 at $69.65 a barrel.

China's key stock index dived 6.74 percent on Monday to a three-month low, prompted by concern that China's government is trying to moderate economic growth and choke off some speculation in its stock market by tightening bank lending.

European equities closed lower and U.S. stocks fell after China's index fall. .EU

"The oil markets have been strongly affected by what's going on in China, where the fear is that authorities will rein in on lending and in the process curtail growth," said Phil Flynn, an analyst at PFGBest Research in Chicago...

[THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER] 31 August - The government has hiked up the price of premium fuel RON97 from 1.80 to RM2.05 a litre while the new RON95 petrol replacing RON92 will be sold at RM1.80 per litre.

The prices are effective tomorrow, state news agency Bernama reported.

Although the price of Ron 97 increased substantially — by 78 sen — to become RM2.70 on June 08, the price dropped twice within six months in line with the global drop in crude oil prices to RM1.80 on December 16.

The Domestic Trade Minister Ismail Datuk Seri Sabri Yaakob did announce on May 12 that the price of RON97 will rise by 20 sen to RM2.00 on Sept 1.

The price of global crude oil was in the US$125 (RM441) neighbourhood before June 2008 when the first major increase was announced last year. Today, crude oil is nestled at US$71 (RM251).