Malaysian politics is certainly a roller-coaster ride…..it goes up and it goes down but the only consistent factor is that the rakyat will vote for money.
All the recent by-elections were lost by Pakatan Rakyat because of two consistent factors outside of their control: ie Money and Postal Votes. These by-elections should be renamed BUY-elections.
So what can be done?
Pakatan Rakyat and especially PKR has lots to learn and change. Learn from past failures and learn from DAP’s campaign style and strategies.
PKR and to an extent PAS is still campaigning the old ways – the BN style. Sweet talk the rakyat, dish out a few candies here and there, “whack” the opponent. This approach does not work for PR because we lose out to BN’s huge machinery and endless bank account.
Look at DAP – their campaign is based on MARKETING; they sell themselves and their achievements with a mascot and theme song too. They even have cuddly toys that supporters buy and the voters see themselves as being a part of the whole campaign. It has been proven to work and being able to overcome even BN’s machinery and money.
We can argue that DAP’s win is because of the Chinese voters who cannot be easily bought. This is true too so BN may just spend more and do more in Chinese areas before the next General Elections.
So what is the next step for Pakatan Rakyat?
PR must seriously look into the issues that they are campaigning on. PKR’s approach of defending Anwar Ibrahim at all costs against Najib can no longer work. The REFORMASI struggle is no longer relevant if it remains focused on DSAI only.
Word on the ground in Sarawak is that they want to know what Pakatan Rakyat can do for them in real terms. They want to know how they can continue to earn a living and that their rice bowls will be protected.
The general man on the street in not bothered with talk of Justice for Teoh Beng Hock , of Kugan or Amirulrashid. In Sarawak for example, if a few people from Semenanjung is banned from entering Sarawak, so what – they are not bothered. If Taib is corrupt, so what – as long as I still can earn a living even though I dun have pipe water or electricity. I can still manage with a generator that the good BN government gave my village.
Clean and fair elections and a corruption free government: that is your problem. It does not matter to me – even when PR becomes government you cannot be clean. All politicians are the same. So I better stick with the ones I know from before.
So even here in Semenanjung, basic bread and butter issue matters to the makcik and pakcik in the kampong and they are the majority. Lopsided contracts, human rights are terms that are alien to them.
In as much as we are all concerned about these matters and it is these issues that form the basic fundamentals to our struggle, it does not work in an election campaign in the interiors and in the villages.
Even DAP’s wonderfully managed marketing campaign will not work in the interiors and in the villages.
Therefore PR must relook and rebrand themselves in order to have a fighting chance come the next GE. Perhaps, learning from DAP; PKR and PAS must start a Marketing Style campaign for the villages and the general middle and lower middle class Malay community.
It is undeniable that PR has got the Chinese and middle-class Malays and Indians in the pocket but PR must keep them in the pocket. PR has lots more to do to get into the hearts of the middle and lower-middle class Malays and Indian voters.
PR must be seen to be able to put food on their tables and a roof over their heads. PR must be seen to be able to give them a sense of security instead of being seen as people that always go protesting this and that; issues that they do not really understand.
For the urbanites, PR must ensure that in the States that they are governing now, pothole are patched, traffic lights are working, drains are flowing and developments controlled and sustainable. These issues if resolved assures that votes remain in PR pockets.
So the difficulty is in the bread and butter issues. BN has done a great job in telling the people that PR cannot do anything because they have never done anything. BN is right too because PR has never been in government to be able to do anything nor does PR have the money to do anything. So PR’s marketing must focus on educating the rakyat on PR’s current limitations and creating that dream of what PR can do and will do once in government.
Creating that dream (Yes We can) is what won Obama the presidentship. PR must likewise create that dream and certainly move away from REFORMASI and the DSAI shadow. Perhaps PKR should swallow humble pie and clinch on DAP’s ” UBAH” battle cry for the coming GE13 – and that dream of Putrajaya can indeed become a reality.
Berkhidmat Untuk Rakyat.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Residents want a sense of security before removing boom gates
THE debate on gated and guarded schemes is the hottest and a long standing community issue that has drawn divided views in recent years.
The schemes, which are categorised by the Housing and Local Government Ministry as ‘gated communities’ that has strata titles and ‘guarded neighbourhoods’ — should only be guarded and not gated. These are forced by-products of high crime rates.
Earlier, residents and authorities called for proper guidelines to put a stop to noise pollution. However, the clauses that did not address to realities actually created more questions.
Aside from ambiguously requiring the consent of the majority, the guidelines demand that every boom barrier be manned by a security guard. Have they any idea how many entry and exit points a typical housing estate in the Klang Valley has? Asking the guards not to request for identification from anyone entering the area defeats the purpose of having security. So are the guards supposed to say ‘hi’ to the suspicious-looking people?
In an attempt to set the rules straight, the Petaling Jaya City Council sent out mass notices instructing residents’ associations to remove all barriers built on public roads on Boxing Day last year. The move drew a huge outcry and the matter is still left unresolved.
The directive was insensitive especially when residents have invested thousands of Ringgit in the scheme which was beginning to show results.
Many families — mine included — who are not rich, have to agree to gate-and-guard our neighbourhood because all other housing estates around us have already implemented the scheme. If we don’t do that, then our housing area will become a target for thefts and robberies.
I must admit that subscribing to the scheme has eased my worries as my parents and grandparents are at home.
While the scheme has successfully reduced crimes, it has produced some adverse effects like hampering fire engines and ambulances from reaching the homes of patients and victims as quickly as possible in emergency situations.
While we have to resort to stay behind locked grilles, boom gates and security personnel to feel safe, the situation in some other countries are very different. Homes in Australia do away with perimeter fences and women in Singapore can take public transport at midnight without fear of being robbed.
We all want the same thing — a sense of security.
While becoming comfortable with the gated-and-guarded schemes, we do not want this to be our culture or worst-case scenario, an unwanted identity of a world-class city we aspire to be.
Instead of hitting at the local council to make the schemes work, residents should check how much we have progressed to reduce dependency on the schemes.
Get updates from the police during dialogues and monitor the length of time used by the force to address safety issues.
Also, are CCTVs and other safety measures working effectively to combat crime?
Giving us a sense of security does not happen overnight. Convince us that when we take away the boom gates, we will still feel safe.
Reduced crime rates do not fully reflect the police’s efficiency. There are fewer crime cases because people have compromised on their lifestyle and prefer to stay ‘behind bars’.
Authorities should brief residents on the effectiveness of alternative measures such as auxiliary police, community policing and personnel re-deployment. Explore other means such as mobilising Rela to work closely with the residents.
At the end of the day, I would rather have my tax contribution going to uniformed bodies than to private security firms.
The schemes, which are categorised by the Housing and Local Government Ministry as ‘gated communities’ that has strata titles and ‘guarded neighbourhoods’ — should only be guarded and not gated. These are forced by-products of high crime rates.
Earlier, residents and authorities called for proper guidelines to put a stop to noise pollution. However, the clauses that did not address to realities actually created more questions.
Aside from ambiguously requiring the consent of the majority, the guidelines demand that every boom barrier be manned by a security guard. Have they any idea how many entry and exit points a typical housing estate in the Klang Valley has? Asking the guards not to request for identification from anyone entering the area defeats the purpose of having security. So are the guards supposed to say ‘hi’ to the suspicious-looking people?
In an attempt to set the rules straight, the Petaling Jaya City Council sent out mass notices instructing residents’ associations to remove all barriers built on public roads on Boxing Day last year. The move drew a huge outcry and the matter is still left unresolved.
The directive was insensitive especially when residents have invested thousands of Ringgit in the scheme which was beginning to show results.
Many families — mine included — who are not rich, have to agree to gate-and-guard our neighbourhood because all other housing estates around us have already implemented the scheme. If we don’t do that, then our housing area will become a target for thefts and robberies.
I must admit that subscribing to the scheme has eased my worries as my parents and grandparents are at home.
While the scheme has successfully reduced crimes, it has produced some adverse effects like hampering fire engines and ambulances from reaching the homes of patients and victims as quickly as possible in emergency situations.
While we have to resort to stay behind locked grilles, boom gates and security personnel to feel safe, the situation in some other countries are very different. Homes in Australia do away with perimeter fences and women in Singapore can take public transport at midnight without fear of being robbed.
We all want the same thing — a sense of security.
While becoming comfortable with the gated-and-guarded schemes, we do not want this to be our culture or worst-case scenario, an unwanted identity of a world-class city we aspire to be.
Instead of hitting at the local council to make the schemes work, residents should check how much we have progressed to reduce dependency on the schemes.
Get updates from the police during dialogues and monitor the length of time used by the force to address safety issues.
Also, are CCTVs and other safety measures working effectively to combat crime?
Giving us a sense of security does not happen overnight. Convince us that when we take away the boom gates, we will still feel safe.
Reduced crime rates do not fully reflect the police’s efficiency. There are fewer crime cases because people have compromised on their lifestyle and prefer to stay ‘behind bars’.
Authorities should brief residents on the effectiveness of alternative measures such as auxiliary police, community policing and personnel re-deployment. Explore other means such as mobilising Rela to work closely with the residents.
At the end of the day, I would rather have my tax contribution going to uniformed bodies than to private security firms.
My Frustrations....
I have commiteed my time, energy and resources to help bring positive changes to Malaysia. I have chosen to work through the Pakatan Rakyat because it is the only available avenue for the moment to fight against Barisan National.
BN has continued in their own manner despite the sounding they recieved in March 2008. Even though their "advisor and consultant" has been giving good advice to the PM, however the grassroots are not singing the same tune. The blatant disrespect of the voice of the people and corrupt practices continues.
Therefore, I have chosen to work through Pakatan Rakyat and i am indeed honoured to be able to serve the community through the office of the Member of Parliament for SUBANG, YB Sivarasa. I habour no political ambitions except to bring changes to the enitre system of governance and see good practices in operation.
I am therefore saddened to note that in many ways and far too often, our currently elected PR representatives seem to have too much ego in their heads. far too often I have noticed how our PR elected representatives are behaving exactly in the same way the BN counterparts were doing.
Although they started off in 2008 as being very people friendly and results orientated but as the months go by, they fall into the trap of their egos and pride. Arriving late to planned meetings, wanting to be "greeted" with grandiose are surely but slowly slipping in.
They want to take credit for almost everything and even when others are helping out, these elected representatives are not keen because they themselves are not present. It does not matter if the problems are not solved, it should not be handled because they still cannot find time to be present. The YB wants to be there first so they can claim credit; its their own ego that comes first - not the rakyat.
Therefore from my first hand experience, I know full well, Rakyat didahulukan is a load of rubbish not just with BN but also with many within PR too.
Some of the PR State government leaders (EXCO) continues to fall into the "trap" of listening to the existing civil servants who are indeed very good at "boot polishing". It was these same officers who were there with the BN government before this and thus the root of the administrative problems before. Now we are still listening to the same people.
Lest we not forget, it was this "poor management" of the government operations that got BN the boot. The average man on the street does not bother too much about the politics, but want to see proper administration - smooth flow of documentations, fair decisions for all, less pot holes, lamp posts that works, traffice lights that works, drains that flow ...... but when the operative fail to function with all kinds of excuses and our "leaders" listen more to them and buy their excuses instead of the residents, we are back to square one.
I admit that with our more open and people friendly approach, every resident is able to call us directly to complain and some of these complainants are a real nuisance but this is part and parcel of our job.
However, we should be good managers and get things done and be results orientated and in many cases be authoritative instead of being the nice guy, playing the "politician" even with these civil servants - who may proof to be our own downfall.
It is indeed a frustrating job......
BN has continued in their own manner despite the sounding they recieved in March 2008. Even though their "advisor and consultant" has been giving good advice to the PM, however the grassroots are not singing the same tune. The blatant disrespect of the voice of the people and corrupt practices continues.
Therefore, I have chosen to work through Pakatan Rakyat and i am indeed honoured to be able to serve the community through the office of the Member of Parliament for SUBANG, YB Sivarasa. I habour no political ambitions except to bring changes to the enitre system of governance and see good practices in operation.
I am therefore saddened to note that in many ways and far too often, our currently elected PR representatives seem to have too much ego in their heads. far too often I have noticed how our PR elected representatives are behaving exactly in the same way the BN counterparts were doing.
Although they started off in 2008 as being very people friendly and results orientated but as the months go by, they fall into the trap of their egos and pride. Arriving late to planned meetings, wanting to be "greeted" with grandiose are surely but slowly slipping in.
They want to take credit for almost everything and even when others are helping out, these elected representatives are not keen because they themselves are not present. It does not matter if the problems are not solved, it should not be handled because they still cannot find time to be present. The YB wants to be there first so they can claim credit; its their own ego that comes first - not the rakyat.
Therefore from my first hand experience, I know full well, Rakyat didahulukan is a load of rubbish not just with BN but also with many within PR too.
Some of the PR State government leaders (EXCO) continues to fall into the "trap" of listening to the existing civil servants who are indeed very good at "boot polishing". It was these same officers who were there with the BN government before this and thus the root of the administrative problems before. Now we are still listening to the same people.
Lest we not forget, it was this "poor management" of the government operations that got BN the boot. The average man on the street does not bother too much about the politics, but want to see proper administration - smooth flow of documentations, fair decisions for all, less pot holes, lamp posts that works, traffice lights that works, drains that flow ...... but when the operative fail to function with all kinds of excuses and our "leaders" listen more to them and buy their excuses instead of the residents, we are back to square one.
I admit that with our more open and people friendly approach, every resident is able to call us directly to complain and some of these complainants are a real nuisance but this is part and parcel of our job.
However, we should be good managers and get things done and be results orientated and in many cases be authoritative instead of being the nice guy, playing the "politician" even with these civil servants - who may proof to be our own downfall.
It is indeed a frustrating job......
Friday, March 4, 2011
My little part for Competency, Accountability and Transparency plus sustainabale development
Ara Damansara residents irked by changes to project
Story and photo by YIP YOKE TENG
teng@thestar.com.my
THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) spent much time drafting the Petaling Jaya Special Area Plan (RKK) but it is now said to go against the recommendations spelt out in the plan.
Residents of Ara Damansara found out the site for Ara Greens Wellness and Healthcare City project should have a plot ratio of 1:2 but the council had allowed 1:3.9.
The residents were also surprised to find out about the project’s conditional approval while it was agreed in the full board meeting in January the project was to be further reviewed.
They said another shocking find was that one of the blocks meant for service apartment later become a “hotel”.
A group of them visited the 3.24ha project site with Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim and Subang MP R. Sivarasa’s aide Peter Chong on Tuesday.
“The RKK recognises Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang as a main road, development along the road can have a plot ratio of 1:4, and density should be reduced in accordance with its distance from the road and the LRT station. The project, as shown in this plan, should only have a plot ratio of 1:2,” said resident C.P. Lim, showing a print-out copy of the plan.
Concerns raised: Ara Damansara residents showing Dr Mohd Nasir (fifth from left) and Chong (second from left) the site on which the Ara Greens Wellness and Healthcare City project will be built and the relevant documents.
“The council has spent so much money commissioning the experts to come out with this plan, why are they not following it?” he asked.
He said the project had suddenly been changed to include a 180-room hotel, in place of the original service apartment with 180 units. The project will also include six blocks of medium-cost service apartments and one block of medical centre.
“The parking requirement will drastically change if they change the usage of the block from apartment to hotel. For service apartment, there must be 2.5 parking bays per unit and another 20% for visitors’ parking while hotel needs to have only one bay for every three rooms. Parking space will be reduced significantly,” Lim added.
The residents also highlighted that the site, as well as that of the adjacent proposed project named Lembah Penchala, was marked for recreational purpose in the Sime Pilmoor Development masterplan in 1995.
“Apart from the 5.3ha land, there were supposed to be two sites for secondary and primary schools but they are now occupied by a commercial area and an abandoned project. Where are the replacement sites? Why have the institutional land disappeared?” another resident Rajinderjit Singh said.
Lim pointed out that since the site was meant for recreational purpose, the utilities might not have enough capacity for such major development.
Chong said the council should explain as to why Form C, which means approval with condition, was issued to the developer while the council was supposed to review the project as requested by the full board.
“Once Form C is issued, all changes will need to be done at the state level, the council will no longer accept the appeals,” he said, adding there was a pressing need to look back at the minutes to find out what had happened.
Dr Nasir said he was also taken aback by the sudden changes in the development plan and questioned why the people were not consulted.
“We support development but there must be a balance. Development should not be done at the expense of the people,” he said.
On the other hand, a spokesman representing the developer clarified that the company did not have any intention to build a hotel.
“It could be miscommunication. The block is meant to be a service apartment, not a hotel” he said.
He added that the company was not aware whether the land was meant for recreational purposes but the current status was “commercial”, and the company had obtained conditional Development Order from the council.
As for the plot ratio, he said when the project was approved it was 1:3.9, and if a new plan had required the plot ratio to be changed, it should only be applied to future projects.
Story and photo by YIP YOKE TENG
teng@thestar.com.my
THE Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) spent much time drafting the Petaling Jaya Special Area Plan (RKK) but it is now said to go against the recommendations spelt out in the plan.
Residents of Ara Damansara found out the site for Ara Greens Wellness and Healthcare City project should have a plot ratio of 1:2 but the council had allowed 1:3.9.
The residents were also surprised to find out about the project’s conditional approval while it was agreed in the full board meeting in January the project was to be further reviewed.
They said another shocking find was that one of the blocks meant for service apartment later become a “hotel”.
A group of them visited the 3.24ha project site with Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Mohd Nasir Hashim and Subang MP R. Sivarasa’s aide Peter Chong on Tuesday.
“The RKK recognises Jalan Lapangan Terbang Subang as a main road, development along the road can have a plot ratio of 1:4, and density should be reduced in accordance with its distance from the road and the LRT station. The project, as shown in this plan, should only have a plot ratio of 1:2,” said resident C.P. Lim, showing a print-out copy of the plan.
Concerns raised: Ara Damansara residents showing Dr Mohd Nasir (fifth from left) and Chong (second from left) the site on which the Ara Greens Wellness and Healthcare City project will be built and the relevant documents.
“The council has spent so much money commissioning the experts to come out with this plan, why are they not following it?” he asked.
He said the project had suddenly been changed to include a 180-room hotel, in place of the original service apartment with 180 units. The project will also include six blocks of medium-cost service apartments and one block of medical centre.
“The parking requirement will drastically change if they change the usage of the block from apartment to hotel. For service apartment, there must be 2.5 parking bays per unit and another 20% for visitors’ parking while hotel needs to have only one bay for every three rooms. Parking space will be reduced significantly,” Lim added.
The residents also highlighted that the site, as well as that of the adjacent proposed project named Lembah Penchala, was marked for recreational purpose in the Sime Pilmoor Development masterplan in 1995.
“Apart from the 5.3ha land, there were supposed to be two sites for secondary and primary schools but they are now occupied by a commercial area and an abandoned project. Where are the replacement sites? Why have the institutional land disappeared?” another resident Rajinderjit Singh said.
Lim pointed out that since the site was meant for recreational purpose, the utilities might not have enough capacity for such major development.
Chong said the council should explain as to why Form C, which means approval with condition, was issued to the developer while the council was supposed to review the project as requested by the full board.
“Once Form C is issued, all changes will need to be done at the state level, the council will no longer accept the appeals,” he said, adding there was a pressing need to look back at the minutes to find out what had happened.
Dr Nasir said he was also taken aback by the sudden changes in the development plan and questioned why the people were not consulted.
“We support development but there must be a balance. Development should not be done at the expense of the people,” he said.
On the other hand, a spokesman representing the developer clarified that the company did not have any intention to build a hotel.
“It could be miscommunication. The block is meant to be a service apartment, not a hotel” he said.
He added that the company was not aware whether the land was meant for recreational purposes but the current status was “commercial”, and the company had obtained conditional Development Order from the council.
As for the plot ratio, he said when the project was approved it was 1:3.9, and if a new plan had required the plot ratio to be changed, it should only be applied to future projects.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Surviving the Coming Hard Time !
By Stanley Koh
Stanley Koh was the head of research unit at MCA.
COMMENT
It turns out that the government you voted in will not hold your hand to see you through hard times. Instead, it will make sure to add to your suffering because that is the easiest way it can avoid going bankrupt.
Barisan Nasional has apparently decided that the time has come to remove or cut subsidies — the kind of subsidies that poor people depend on, not the kind enjoyed by big corporations and monopolistic suppliers of utilities and infrastructural support.
So what is the use of a government that will eagerly shake your hand during election time but will not hesitate to pull the rug from under your feet when it needs to save itself?
Few believe that the removal of subsidies on essential food items and fuels can save the Malaysian government from possible bankruptcy. If it does go bankrupt, it will be because it has failed to cleanse a corrupt system.
It is better for Malaysians to be rich and to control a bankrupt government than to be poor and controlled by a corrupt government. Many countries have rich citizens with bankrupt governments.
You do not need an economist to tell you that RM100 in Malaysia today does not buy as much as it did last year.
In what we may call the Malaysian Misery Index, we can see that food prices have been spiralling upwards for years. For example, fresh tenggiri, which was RM13.23 a kilo in 1997, now costs RM40 a kilo. A roasted duck cost RM13.47 in 1997, but is now at least RM38. And Malaysians have become used to the doubling in price of some food items during festive seasons.
Most Malaysians do not expect the situation to improve. Food prices will continue to go up and there is little hope that they will come down again.
Two years ago, the BN government announced that it had set up a US$1.25 billion fund to increase food production and that it was targeting 100% self-sufficiency in rice consumption. What has happened to the fund and the target?
Double whammy
When the GST (goods and services tax) is fully implemented in 2011, it will be a double whammy for poor and middle-income households, pensioners, the unemployed and single parents.
Some have argued that imposing GST on Malaysian does not make much economic sense when only 6.8% of the population are taxpayers and a large majority earn low incomes. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that most of us are paying hidden taxes in highway tolls and electricity tariffs.
Indeed, the future looks bleak.
Yet, quite a number of us are gullible enough to think that the government will protect consumers. Are we not being stupid? Isn't it better to be wiser and brace for tougher times ahead?
Instead of believing the promises of a government that has a dismal performance record, we should believe the law of inflation, which says, “Whatever goes up will go up some more.”
Ronald Reagan once described inflation as a violent mugger, a threatening armed robber and a deadly hit man. In the Malaysian context, that is an apt description not of inflation, but of the BN government’s behaviour and policies.
So how do we fight the inflation of food prices?
Economists generally agree that the average Malaysian household spends about 75% of its income on food. Food price hikes will therefore have an adverse impact upon disposable income and force us to make a lifestyle change.
To fight inflation
Here are some of the things we can do:
- Stop eating at expensive restaurants.
- Boycott traders, hypermarkets and hawker stalls that charge unreasonable prices.
-Shop intelligently for value and do not be too impressed by branding.
-Work out a budget before buying. Look out for special sales.
- Prevent wastage by not buying more than you can eat.
- Tell friends and acquaintances about shops that charge excessively.
- Avoid buying expensive beverages or foodstuff and find alternatives for nutritional value.
- Boycott chained markets and fast-food joints. They are monopolised by a few large companies and can therefore raise prices at whim.
Perhaps economist Milton Friedman was right when he said, “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara desert, in five years there will be a shortage of sand.”
Malaysians do not take the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) seriously. They know it does not accurately reflect price rises in essential foodstuffs.
Many suspect that the government uses it as an instrument to deceive the public into thinking that things are hunky-dory when they are not. The government develops statistics so that the inflation-weary public would direct its hostility towards businesses, and not blame official mismanagement.
The average household consumption expenditure over the last 20 years has increased by 181.8%. In 1973, it was RM412. By 1993-94, it had gone up to RM1,161. In 1999, it touched RM1,631.
According to Prof Lim Teck Ghee, real household income has been growing, but at the snail-pace rate of 0.9% per year. More than half of the population are in the low-income category.
Today, a family of five spends 50% to 60% of household income on food compared with 20% in 1998 and 15% in 1988.
Not long ago, there was official acknowledgement that 95% of families are finding it hard to cope with the rise in food prices.
In fact, the biggest failure of the Ninth Malaysia Plan is that it did not help Malaysians improve their quality of living. Inflation, whether it is imported or locally generated, raises the cost of living and lowers the quality of living.
'Why not change the government?'
In 2006, when Najib Tun Razak was Deputy Prime Minister, he asked Malaysians to change their lifestyle in the face of the rising cost of living.
A blogger by the name of Chong wrote in response: “Perhaps, the prime minister should have done some simple calculations himself. People like us basically have no lifestyle, just merely surviving with our earnings. So how are we going to change (our lifestyle)?
“Inflation has gone up 4.5% (and above) and the government is pushing the cost of living higher by increasing electricity tariffs, but our income remains the same.”
Others felt it would be easier to change the government than to change a non-existent lifestyle.
“Instead of listening to Najib asking us to change,” one critic remarked, “why not we change the government at the next general election?”
To me, that makes a lot of sense. Any government that is willing to build air-conditioned toilets around a city at more than RM100,000 each has no business planning a national economy.
When such a government decides to cut subsidies, many of us will wonder whether the so-called “savings” will instead go towards more majestic arches, fanciful lampposts, refurbishments of VIP residences, luxurious government bungalows and fruitless overseas trips by ministers.
Any government that stands accused of having wasted RM320 billion in 20 years — through corruption, wastage and mismanagement — definitely does not deserve to be re-elected.
Stanley Koh was the head of research unit at MCA.
Stanley Koh was the head of research unit at MCA.
COMMENT
It turns out that the government you voted in will not hold your hand to see you through hard times. Instead, it will make sure to add to your suffering because that is the easiest way it can avoid going bankrupt.
Barisan Nasional has apparently decided that the time has come to remove or cut subsidies — the kind of subsidies that poor people depend on, not the kind enjoyed by big corporations and monopolistic suppliers of utilities and infrastructural support.
So what is the use of a government that will eagerly shake your hand during election time but will not hesitate to pull the rug from under your feet when it needs to save itself?
Few believe that the removal of subsidies on essential food items and fuels can save the Malaysian government from possible bankruptcy. If it does go bankrupt, it will be because it has failed to cleanse a corrupt system.
It is better for Malaysians to be rich and to control a bankrupt government than to be poor and controlled by a corrupt government. Many countries have rich citizens with bankrupt governments.
You do not need an economist to tell you that RM100 in Malaysia today does not buy as much as it did last year.
In what we may call the Malaysian Misery Index, we can see that food prices have been spiralling upwards for years. For example, fresh tenggiri, which was RM13.23 a kilo in 1997, now costs RM40 a kilo. A roasted duck cost RM13.47 in 1997, but is now at least RM38. And Malaysians have become used to the doubling in price of some food items during festive seasons.
Most Malaysians do not expect the situation to improve. Food prices will continue to go up and there is little hope that they will come down again.
Two years ago, the BN government announced that it had set up a US$1.25 billion fund to increase food production and that it was targeting 100% self-sufficiency in rice consumption. What has happened to the fund and the target?
Double whammy
When the GST (goods and services tax) is fully implemented in 2011, it will be a double whammy for poor and middle-income households, pensioners, the unemployed and single parents.
Some have argued that imposing GST on Malaysian does not make much economic sense when only 6.8% of the population are taxpayers and a large majority earn low incomes. Furthermore, it is acknowledged that most of us are paying hidden taxes in highway tolls and electricity tariffs.
Indeed, the future looks bleak.
Yet, quite a number of us are gullible enough to think that the government will protect consumers. Are we not being stupid? Isn't it better to be wiser and brace for tougher times ahead?
Instead of believing the promises of a government that has a dismal performance record, we should believe the law of inflation, which says, “Whatever goes up will go up some more.”
Ronald Reagan once described inflation as a violent mugger, a threatening armed robber and a deadly hit man. In the Malaysian context, that is an apt description not of inflation, but of the BN government’s behaviour and policies.
So how do we fight the inflation of food prices?
Economists generally agree that the average Malaysian household spends about 75% of its income on food. Food price hikes will therefore have an adverse impact upon disposable income and force us to make a lifestyle change.
To fight inflation
Here are some of the things we can do:
- Stop eating at expensive restaurants.
- Boycott traders, hypermarkets and hawker stalls that charge unreasonable prices.
-Shop intelligently for value and do not be too impressed by branding.
-Work out a budget before buying. Look out for special sales.
- Prevent wastage by not buying more than you can eat.
- Tell friends and acquaintances about shops that charge excessively.
- Avoid buying expensive beverages or foodstuff and find alternatives for nutritional value.
- Boycott chained markets and fast-food joints. They are monopolised by a few large companies and can therefore raise prices at whim.
Perhaps economist Milton Friedman was right when he said, “If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara desert, in five years there will be a shortage of sand.”
Malaysians do not take the official Consumer Price Index (CPI) seriously. They know it does not accurately reflect price rises in essential foodstuffs.
Many suspect that the government uses it as an instrument to deceive the public into thinking that things are hunky-dory when they are not. The government develops statistics so that the inflation-weary public would direct its hostility towards businesses, and not blame official mismanagement.
The average household consumption expenditure over the last 20 years has increased by 181.8%. In 1973, it was RM412. By 1993-94, it had gone up to RM1,161. In 1999, it touched RM1,631.
According to Prof Lim Teck Ghee, real household income has been growing, but at the snail-pace rate of 0.9% per year. More than half of the population are in the low-income category.
Today, a family of five spends 50% to 60% of household income on food compared with 20% in 1998 and 15% in 1988.
Not long ago, there was official acknowledgement that 95% of families are finding it hard to cope with the rise in food prices.
In fact, the biggest failure of the Ninth Malaysia Plan is that it did not help Malaysians improve their quality of living. Inflation, whether it is imported or locally generated, raises the cost of living and lowers the quality of living.
'Why not change the government?'
In 2006, when Najib Tun Razak was Deputy Prime Minister, he asked Malaysians to change their lifestyle in the face of the rising cost of living.
A blogger by the name of Chong wrote in response: “Perhaps, the prime minister should have done some simple calculations himself. People like us basically have no lifestyle, just merely surviving with our earnings. So how are we going to change (our lifestyle)?
“Inflation has gone up 4.5% (and above) and the government is pushing the cost of living higher by increasing electricity tariffs, but our income remains the same.”
Others felt it would be easier to change the government than to change a non-existent lifestyle.
“Instead of listening to Najib asking us to change,” one critic remarked, “why not we change the government at the next general election?”
To me, that makes a lot of sense. Any government that is willing to build air-conditioned toilets around a city at more than RM100,000 each has no business planning a national economy.
When such a government decides to cut subsidies, many of us will wonder whether the so-called “savings” will instead go towards more majestic arches, fanciful lampposts, refurbishments of VIP residences, luxurious government bungalows and fruitless overseas trips by ministers.
Any government that stands accused of having wasted RM320 billion in 20 years — through corruption, wastage and mismanagement — definitely does not deserve to be re-elected.
Stanley Koh was the head of research unit at MCA.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Pertahankan Selangor demi Menyelamatkan Malaysia
2011 – 365 days; 8760 hours - what lies ahead?
2011 is not only the beginning of a new year but also the beginning of a new decade. I do not know what lies ahead but what I know for sure, it would be a challenging year for Malaysia.
It begins with Selangor (the heart of the nation) being on the brink of a Constitutional Crisis. The appointment of the State Secretary would be the talk of the nation. The fed is bending the law, and trying to put in their own chosen candidate without consultation with the Mentri Besar.
Worst still, the palace bureaucrats seem to be in league with the Feds. Announcements and invitations to the swearing-in ceremony have already been sent out. The Selangor Constitution is specific in that the SS must be sworn-in in the presence of the Mentri Besar (effectively, his immediate boss) The same constitution is silent on the role of the Sultan in the swearing-in.
So, will the MB disobey the palace and refuse to attend the ceremony – and refuses to acknowledge the appointment of the SS?
I strongly believe that the MB should call for an Emergency State Assembly sitting, where the people’s voice through their elected representatives should be heard. A vote should be taken as to whether the nominated SS is acceptable or not; if not, ask the Fed to propose another name or select from one of those proposed by the MB.
This I believe is in the spirit of the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto of respecting the Voice of the Rakyat.
The Feds would probably not respect the vote of the State Assembly; let them do so at the risk of facing the wrath of the people.
The next step, would be going to the courts to resolve this constitutional problem. Let the courts decide on how the SS should be appointed. Again, we all know the Courts are controlled by the Feds with little or no respect to the Rule of Law. Let it be, because this is yet another nail into the coffin of the BN Government.
All this would remain fresh in the memories of the voters come the next elections as long as the rakyat are continuously reminded of this.
In the meantime, without an SS, the State would be in a limbo. The EXCO would need to work extra time to get the administrative arm to continue working. However, it cannot afford to use the non existence of the SS as an excuse for things not moving.
This would be an excellent test for the Pakatan Rakyat State Government on crisis management. Perhaps, Kelantan to be a good direction to look to for guidance and previous experience.
This would be a tremendously challenging task to start off the year on. Of course January 2011 will end with the Temang by-elections; the result would set the mood for the rest of the year.
2011 is not only the beginning of a new year but also the beginning of a new decade. I do not know what lies ahead but what I know for sure, it would be a challenging year for Malaysia.
It begins with Selangor (the heart of the nation) being on the brink of a Constitutional Crisis. The appointment of the State Secretary would be the talk of the nation. The fed is bending the law, and trying to put in their own chosen candidate without consultation with the Mentri Besar.
Worst still, the palace bureaucrats seem to be in league with the Feds. Announcements and invitations to the swearing-in ceremony have already been sent out. The Selangor Constitution is specific in that the SS must be sworn-in in the presence of the Mentri Besar (effectively, his immediate boss) The same constitution is silent on the role of the Sultan in the swearing-in.
So, will the MB disobey the palace and refuse to attend the ceremony – and refuses to acknowledge the appointment of the SS?
I strongly believe that the MB should call for an Emergency State Assembly sitting, where the people’s voice through their elected representatives should be heard. A vote should be taken as to whether the nominated SS is acceptable or not; if not, ask the Fed to propose another name or select from one of those proposed by the MB.
This I believe is in the spirit of the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto of respecting the Voice of the Rakyat.
The Feds would probably not respect the vote of the State Assembly; let them do so at the risk of facing the wrath of the people.
The next step, would be going to the courts to resolve this constitutional problem. Let the courts decide on how the SS should be appointed. Again, we all know the Courts are controlled by the Feds with little or no respect to the Rule of Law. Let it be, because this is yet another nail into the coffin of the BN Government.
All this would remain fresh in the memories of the voters come the next elections as long as the rakyat are continuously reminded of this.
In the meantime, without an SS, the State would be in a limbo. The EXCO would need to work extra time to get the administrative arm to continue working. However, it cannot afford to use the non existence of the SS as an excuse for things not moving.
This would be an excellent test for the Pakatan Rakyat State Government on crisis management. Perhaps, Kelantan to be a good direction to look to for guidance and previous experience.
This would be a tremendously challenging task to start off the year on. Of course January 2011 will end with the Temang by-elections; the result would set the mood for the rest of the year.
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