My Thoughts, week ending 21st May 2011
This week ended with talks or rather; with the UMNO Regime “preparing” the rakyat with news of the forthcoming price increase for RON95.
I am not one who advocates subsidies but as Najib has said, subsidies are like opium and the rakyat are addicted.
Therefore, it is very important indeed for the administration to look at its priorities especially when it comes to cutting subsidies.
Removing subsidies for RON95 and for sugar and diesel (as announced recently) are definitely not the way forward. These are basic items which will also be the “multiplier” – thus an increase in price would bring along a rolling effect on the price of many more basic necessities.
Whilst the UMNO regime has reported an inflation rate of 3% the truth and reality on the ground is that price of household items and basic necessities have increased by an average of 10% year to year with no corresponding increase in salary.
Thus at this point in time, reducing subsidies for RON95 as part of the administration’s subsidy rationalization plans is definitely not the way.
What more with the recent Bank Negara’s announcement of an increase in base rates means the rakyat would be burdened with higher loan repayments.
The average Malaysian family spends over 40% of their income on purchasing basic household necessities. Thus a big portion of our expenditure will be further hit by an increase in price of basic necessities.
Therefore with these real figures it would definitely not be morally right for the administration to even consider a reduction in the subsidies for RON95. Not at this point in time anyway.
What should rightfully be done instead is to have the political will to regularize the subsidies given that does not bring direct benefit to the lower income communities. Subsidies given to the Independent Power Producers for example, must definitely be re-looked at seriously.
Similarly, tightening the belt by the administration and leadership must be given serious priority. Unnecessary and wasteful spending must be curbed. Good governance and competency must be real and not just be given lip-service.
Public transportation must be on top of the list of priorities that the administration need to reform. The services must be efficient, user-friendly and affordable where the rakyat would be proud to use it and would encourage others to use it too.
Introducing minimum wages would be another way to spread the burden with businesses. With bigger take-home pay and thus stronger spending power, an increase in price of basic necessities due to reducing subsidies would bring lesser impact.
Yes I remain a proponent of rationalization of subsidies. The nation’s economic status must be real; based on real figures and not on these “subsidized reality”. There must come a point in time when we free ourselves of the addiction as suggested by Najib or as the doctor said,” we must get rid of the crutches.”
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
My thoughts 11-05-11
The week that was…
The last week saw the return of our annual visit by the haze.
If the hot weather continues, the haze will only get worse and of course out will come the face masks of all shapes and colours; the new fashion statements.
As Anak Bangsa Malaysia, the last week also brought about the dark political sky to our nation.
The suggestion by the mainstream press about DAP supporting the churches to make Christianity the official religion in Malaysia is a serious matter. However, despite its serious repercussions , our ministers were quick in making comments and remarks without due consideration to its consequences.
DAP nor any other political party would in any way even think about let alone suggest to touch on the question of the official religion for our country. Some have argued that there is in fact no official religion in the Constitution; whatever it is, the general public assumes and respects that Islam is the official religion.
Therefore all official state functions will begin by reciting the prayer according to the Islam faith. However, there is nothing stopping the non-muslim participants for quietly murmuring a prayer in their own faith.
I am a practicing Christian, and for me personally and to many of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, mine is not a religion. It is in fact a relationship between myself and my God. When I pray, it means I am communicating with my God; sharing my thoughts and seeking for his guidance. This is what a relationship means.
Therefore I do not think even for a moment that the church leaders would even want to suggest making Christianity the official religion in Malaysia.
Thus Utusan Malaysia’s irresponsible reporting plus a misleading picture smacks of insensitivity and mischief. As a responsible Prime Minister, Najib has little choice but to publicly rebuke the editors of Utusan Malaysia. If he fails to do that, it means that he is in fact condoning such irresponsibility. He cannot hide behind the fact of freedom of speech, because this kind of freedom is indeed very selective.
In fact, Freedom of Speech which even Pakatan Rakyat supports, does come with responsibility. When someone practices this Freedom without the responsibility, than they must bear the consequences.
I applaud the Penang PR Government for taking the initiative of banning Utusan Malaysia from covering their programmes. This is one such consequence of irresponsibility. I urge the other Pakatan Rakyat state governments to do likewise.
However, this cannot be compared with taking away the rights of Utusan Malaysia from covering their events simply because Utusan is bias in their reporting. It is their right to be bias leaning to their masters but being irresponsible is another thing altogether.
Than came Tuesday with the report that sugar prices will be raised by another 20sen per kilo. As usual, our dear minister goes overboard to justify the increase.
Comparing the price of sugar here with Singapore without comparing the income levels of the citizens is akin to “hazing” the rakyat’s view. However, the rakyat today, is not that easily conned. The cyberworld has opened the eyes of the rakyat.
By reducing the subsidy for sugar the government is reported to have saved RM116 million. This makes perfect sense; but not so when we see the same government allocating RM110 million to an NGO which comes under the patronage of the wife of the Prime Minister. How can the government therefore justify either spending the money for the NGO or increasing the price of sugar.
So yes the week has been hazy but as always, the haze will go away. Likewise, the “haze” of incomplete, misleading and irresponsible information to the rakyat will also go away. The rakyat will see the clear picture sooner or later; sooner I hope. When the picture becomes clear, that’s when it matters most, what they would do with the clear picture. Vote for Change!
The last week saw the return of our annual visit by the haze.
If the hot weather continues, the haze will only get worse and of course out will come the face masks of all shapes and colours; the new fashion statements.
As Anak Bangsa Malaysia, the last week also brought about the dark political sky to our nation.
The suggestion by the mainstream press about DAP supporting the churches to make Christianity the official religion in Malaysia is a serious matter. However, despite its serious repercussions , our ministers were quick in making comments and remarks without due consideration to its consequences.
DAP nor any other political party would in any way even think about let alone suggest to touch on the question of the official religion for our country. Some have argued that there is in fact no official religion in the Constitution; whatever it is, the general public assumes and respects that Islam is the official religion.
Therefore all official state functions will begin by reciting the prayer according to the Islam faith. However, there is nothing stopping the non-muslim participants for quietly murmuring a prayer in their own faith.
I am a practicing Christian, and for me personally and to many of my fellow Christian brothers and sisters, mine is not a religion. It is in fact a relationship between myself and my God. When I pray, it means I am communicating with my God; sharing my thoughts and seeking for his guidance. This is what a relationship means.
Therefore I do not think even for a moment that the church leaders would even want to suggest making Christianity the official religion in Malaysia.
Thus Utusan Malaysia’s irresponsible reporting plus a misleading picture smacks of insensitivity and mischief. As a responsible Prime Minister, Najib has little choice but to publicly rebuke the editors of Utusan Malaysia. If he fails to do that, it means that he is in fact condoning such irresponsibility. He cannot hide behind the fact of freedom of speech, because this kind of freedom is indeed very selective.
In fact, Freedom of Speech which even Pakatan Rakyat supports, does come with responsibility. When someone practices this Freedom without the responsibility, than they must bear the consequences.
I applaud the Penang PR Government for taking the initiative of banning Utusan Malaysia from covering their programmes. This is one such consequence of irresponsibility. I urge the other Pakatan Rakyat state governments to do likewise.
However, this cannot be compared with taking away the rights of Utusan Malaysia from covering their events simply because Utusan is bias in their reporting. It is their right to be bias leaning to their masters but being irresponsible is another thing altogether.
Than came Tuesday with the report that sugar prices will be raised by another 20sen per kilo. As usual, our dear minister goes overboard to justify the increase.
Comparing the price of sugar here with Singapore without comparing the income levels of the citizens is akin to “hazing” the rakyat’s view. However, the rakyat today, is not that easily conned. The cyberworld has opened the eyes of the rakyat.
By reducing the subsidy for sugar the government is reported to have saved RM116 million. This makes perfect sense; but not so when we see the same government allocating RM110 million to an NGO which comes under the patronage of the wife of the Prime Minister. How can the government therefore justify either spending the money for the NGO or increasing the price of sugar.
So yes the week has been hazy but as always, the haze will go away. Likewise, the “haze” of incomplete, misleading and irresponsible information to the rakyat will also go away. The rakyat will see the clear picture sooner or later; sooner I hope. When the picture becomes clear, that’s when it matters most, what they would do with the clear picture. Vote for Change!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
life sentences
Every life is sacred. Every person has a sacred right, not just to
breathe and have a heartbeat, but also to lead a normal, regular life
without unjustified persecution, harassment and victimisation. When
politicians and political parties destroy the lives of innocent people
in order to preserve their own power, that, to me, is evil. Or, to use
a milder term, let's just say it is immoral.
This is my bottom line: The PAP has no morals and no moral authority to
govern Singapore. Because it does not uphold the life and freedom of
individuals. Its stubborn refusal to drop the death penalty - including
mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers, giving judges no room to
consider specific circumstances of a case - only reinforces this lack
of respect for life.
breathe and have a heartbeat, but also to lead a normal, regular life
without unjustified persecution, harassment and victimisation. When
politicians and political parties destroy the lives of innocent people
in order to preserve their own power, that, to me, is evil. Or, to use
a milder term, let's just say it is immoral.
This is my bottom line: The PAP has no morals and no moral authority to
govern Singapore. Because it does not uphold the life and freedom of
individuals. Its stubborn refusal to drop the death penalty - including
mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers, giving judges no room to
consider specific circumstances of a case - only reinforces this lack
of respect for life.
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