Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Abdul Samad is a pathetic lot.

Not long ago, prior to the fuel price hike announcement by the PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, he was seen telling the world that petrol and diesel prices may go up beginning August, when the subsidy system is re-structured.

Subsequently, almost immediately, his suggestion was refuted by his boss when dramatic price increase for both fuel and electricity were announced simultaneously, putting the entire nation into a shock state.

Yesterday, the D-Day for the new price, he completely changed his tone, justifying the decision made by Pak Lah.

He said the decision as to expedite the announcement of the increase in petrol and diesel prices was not an "afterthought", but rather a need.

Hence, the similar damage was done on Shahrir himself too, as a person and in his capacity as a minister who is supposed to be in charge of the pricing control for domestic necessities.

Not only he lost his credibility, but also the entire circumstance thrusting him into a very bad limelight, together with the fact that he is appointed based on back-door policy via the senatorship awarded as he wasn’t a running candidate in the recent general election.

In the end of the day, I can’t help but to ask, who is the invisible hand behind the dramatic move or is it Shahrir who is the only incompetent culprit in handling the situation, or rather, managing the people’s expectation as a minister in charge of consumer affairs?

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