In the past, they impressed us with millions - in the tradition of the six million dollar man, perhaps? These days, the figures run into BILLIONS. Today, The Malaysian Insider reported that Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced today a RM1.4 billion welfare allocation to around 500,000 underprivileged recipients including senior citizens, the disabled and widows of army and police personnel.
According to the report, the allocation which would be disbursed monthly under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s newly-launched initiative called Program Kebajikan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (KAR1SMA) was increased by RM200 million from last year’s RM1.2 billion for 424,000 identified recipients. The PM said the increase in aid to the needy is in line with one of the main pillars of his administration’s philosophy which is to uphold social justice. The rationale given was that the underprivileged represent a large group and without intervention, they will remain a marginalised and we would have failed to uphold social justice. You can read more about it here.
Now are we expected to have a trumpet fanfare? Or drum rolls? Or cause for celebration? No doubt RM1.2BILLION sounds like a HUGE amount of money but hey - the reality is that the figure is RM200million more than the allocation for the previous year. So, what's the big deal?
Ah - the difference is those ringgit are sugar-coated. Cosmetics. To make some happy? To make is seem as though yes, the government cares. A Carrot and Stick policy perhaps? Vote for us and you will get more?
Let's put things in the right perspective. Since March 2008, what has happened?
The 1Malaysia policy was put into place together with IMalaysia Clinic and lots of $$$ spent.
Then, it was announced that we have to change our lifestyle because subsidies have to be reduced as they cannot afford to mollycoddle us that way anymore. Subsequently, the prices of goods and fuel escalated.
The rakyat is now getting angry and angrier and poorer and poorer as our purchasing power is diminishing day by day!
And out of the blue, the PM has announced that they have identified the marginalised who need help so they can become independent! And he is doling money to try to pacify some with the wishful thinking that by doing so, he can win their votes.
Is this the way? In July last year, Datuk Seri Idris Jala warned that Malaysia could in 2019 end up bankrupt like Greece if the RM74bil annual subsidies are not slashed. This article quoted the National Economic Advisory Council’s New Economic Model (Part 1) report and noted that aggregate investment levels (in products and services) as a percentage of GDP have been declining ever since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-1998. The same report also mentioned that the contraction was driven mostly by a decline in private investment. So what does that mean? It is not possible that the country's fortunes can change for the better in such a short time to justify such a large expenditure on welfare!
What is the rationale for this move? Is it for the benefit of the country or for someone/a party's political survival?
Instead of handing out walking sticks, shouldn't the money be used to:
* IMPROVE education standards
* Ensure the poor have basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing
* Improving infrastructure
* Providing piped water and power supply to rural areas
* Improving hospital services
* etc etc
Such a large sum of money to be disbursed MUST be discussed in Parliament. This is the rakyat's money. How can a decision be made just off the cuff like that with no proper debate or proposal etc?
More details MUST be given!!!
Does the PM think that by sugar-coating the ringgit this way, people can forget the recent blunders such as in Bersih 2.0 or the FBC issue?
We are still reeling in the deafening silence of the government on the FBC media issue!!! FMT had reported that Najib had allegedly paid FBC Media over RM57 million in 2008 and 2009 for programmes to prop up his image and that of the government on BBC and US-based CNBC and CNN.
In 2010, the BN government paid FBC Media another RM42 million for a “global strategic media campaign”.
In June this year, FMT reported the Dewan Rakyat was told that close to RM1.8 million was spent to create six Tourism Malaysia Facebook applications. Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said that each application cost RM293,072 to develop, or RM1,758,432 in full.
Three months go, it was reported that the allocation prepared by the government to carry out the National Youth Day amounted to RM1.5 million. In a reply to Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PAS) Ahmad Shabery said that the total costs amounted to RM27 million, where most of it was obtained via sponsorship from the private sector!!! Whether it was public money or money from the private sector, it was still RM27 million that was spent!!!
And now, it is 1.4BILLION RINGGIT.
If you want your blood pressure to rise and to start an adrenalin rush, just add up all those figures and I am sure it will be a mind-blowing experience!
The Malaysian Insider put it succinctly in this editorial:
This strategy was used by Tun Abdullah Badawi after his fitness to lead Malaysia was questioned by Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad and after his early promise of reforming the country dissipated into flip-flops, missteps and pandering to his party’s demands.
He increased the salary of civil servants and even put cash in the pocket of Malaysians through a one-off RM600 payment.
Underlying this move was the view that even though the ground had soured on him considerably by 2007, putting money into the hands of Malaysians would make them put their bitterness aside and vote him in again.
We know how that strategy played out.
By March 2008, he called elections and Malaysians dealt his Barisan Nasional (BN) its bloodiest nose and paved the way for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to take over the reins.
Maybe what’s disappointing about politicians or leaders using money as the panacea of weak rule is that it reflects a belief that we can be bought.
Najib is doing the same now.
People, the time has come for us to put in place a government that is prudent with its expenditure. And you know who has NOT been prudent. After almost 54 years, the excessive spending has left such a bitter taste in our mouths and memories that no amount of sugar-coating $$$ can un-do the damage. We are bleeding and bleeding and it is up to all of us to put a stop to that!!!
According to the report, the allocation which would be disbursed monthly under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry’s newly-launched initiative called Program Kebajikan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (KAR1SMA) was increased by RM200 million from last year’s RM1.2 billion for 424,000 identified recipients. The PM said the increase in aid to the needy is in line with one of the main pillars of his administration’s philosophy which is to uphold social justice. The rationale given was that the underprivileged represent a large group and without intervention, they will remain a marginalised and we would have failed to uphold social justice. You can read more about it here.
Now are we expected to have a trumpet fanfare? Or drum rolls? Or cause for celebration? No doubt RM1.2BILLION sounds like a HUGE amount of money but hey - the reality is that the figure is RM200million more than the allocation for the previous year. So, what's the big deal?
Ah - the difference is those ringgit are sugar-coated. Cosmetics. To make some happy? To make is seem as though yes, the government cares. A Carrot and Stick policy perhaps? Vote for us and you will get more?
Let's put things in the right perspective. Since March 2008, what has happened?
The 1Malaysia policy was put into place together with IMalaysia Clinic and lots of $$$ spent.
Then, it was announced that we have to change our lifestyle because subsidies have to be reduced as they cannot afford to mollycoddle us that way anymore. Subsequently, the prices of goods and fuel escalated.
The rakyat is now getting angry and angrier and poorer and poorer as our purchasing power is diminishing day by day!
And out of the blue, the PM has announced that they have identified the marginalised who need help so they can become independent! And he is doling money to try to pacify some with the wishful thinking that by doing so, he can win their votes.
Is this the way? In July last year, Datuk Seri Idris Jala warned that Malaysia could in 2019 end up bankrupt like Greece if the RM74bil annual subsidies are not slashed. This article quoted the National Economic Advisory Council’s New Economic Model (Part 1) report and noted that aggregate investment levels (in products and services) as a percentage of GDP have been declining ever since the Asian Financial Crisis of 1997-1998. The same report also mentioned that the contraction was driven mostly by a decline in private investment. So what does that mean? It is not possible that the country's fortunes can change for the better in such a short time to justify such a large expenditure on welfare!
What is the rationale for this move? Is it for the benefit of the country or for someone/a party's political survival?
Instead of handing out walking sticks, shouldn't the money be used to:
* IMPROVE education standards
* Ensure the poor have basic needs such as food, shelter and clothing
* Improving infrastructure
* Providing piped water and power supply to rural areas
* Improving hospital services
* etc etc
Such a large sum of money to be disbursed MUST be discussed in Parliament. This is the rakyat's money. How can a decision be made just off the cuff like that with no proper debate or proposal etc?
More details MUST be given!!!
Does the PM think that by sugar-coating the ringgit this way, people can forget the recent blunders such as in Bersih 2.0 or the FBC issue?
We are still reeling in the deafening silence of the government on the FBC media issue!!! FMT had reported that Najib had allegedly paid FBC Media over RM57 million in 2008 and 2009 for programmes to prop up his image and that of the government on BBC and US-based CNBC and CNN.
In 2010, the BN government paid FBC Media another RM42 million for a “global strategic media campaign”.
In June this year, FMT reported the Dewan Rakyat was told that close to RM1.8 million was spent to create six Tourism Malaysia Facebook applications. Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit said that each application cost RM293,072 to develop, or RM1,758,432 in full.
Three months go, it was reported that the allocation prepared by the government to carry out the National Youth Day amounted to RM1.5 million. In a reply to Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PAS) Ahmad Shabery said that the total costs amounted to RM27 million, where most of it was obtained via sponsorship from the private sector!!! Whether it was public money or money from the private sector, it was still RM27 million that was spent!!!
And now, it is 1.4BILLION RINGGIT.
If you want your blood pressure to rise and to start an adrenalin rush, just add up all those figures and I am sure it will be a mind-blowing experience!
The Malaysian Insider put it succinctly in this editorial:
This strategy was used by Tun Abdullah Badawi after his fitness to lead Malaysia was questioned by Tun Dr Mahathir Muhammad and after his early promise of reforming the country dissipated into flip-flops, missteps and pandering to his party’s demands.
He increased the salary of civil servants and even put cash in the pocket of Malaysians through a one-off RM600 payment.
Underlying this move was the view that even though the ground had soured on him considerably by 2007, putting money into the hands of Malaysians would make them put their bitterness aside and vote him in again.
We know how that strategy played out.
By March 2008, he called elections and Malaysians dealt his Barisan Nasional (BN) its bloodiest nose and paved the way for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to take over the reins.
Maybe what’s disappointing about politicians or leaders using money as the panacea of weak rule is that it reflects a belief that we can be bought.
Najib is doing the same now.
People, the time has come for us to put in place a government that is prudent with its expenditure. And you know who has NOT been prudent. After almost 54 years, the excessive spending has left such a bitter taste in our mouths and memories that no amount of sugar-coating $$$ can un-do the damage. We are bleeding and bleeding and it is up to all of us to put a stop to that!!!
3 comments:
I went to the Post Office to register to vote; and upon checking my identity card, the Post officer asked which religion I belonged to. Why? I do not know. Therefore, we must reform the Department of Religion. Right now, only Islam is recognised as the religion in the Department of Religion. Therefore we need reforms. We need to divide the Department of Religion into two branches: one branch to deal with Muslim Affairs, and another branch to deal with non-Muslim Affairs.
Another alternative is to persuade the Malays to separate Penang Island from Peninsular Malaysia. It may be that non-Muslims are the majority in Penang. More and more non-Muslims from Peninsular Malaysia should be encouraged to relocate to Penang. Once Penang becomes a non-Muslim majority state, then the Penangites can ask for greater autonomy from KL. Penang should be allowed to make its own laws for itself. I think the Malays should be happy if more non-Malays relocate to Penang. An increase in non-Malays in Penang will result in a decrease in non-Malays in Peninsular Malaysia; and therefore Malays should be happy. Malays should encourage non-Muslims to relocate to Penang. Since Singapore is a non-Muslim majority nation, Penang should also become a non-Muslim majority state. The non-Muslim citizens need a hub and space of their own; and the hub and space would be Penang. Those non-Muslim citizens who are unwilling to accept a second class citizen status inside Peninsular Malaysia should relocate to Penang Island.
If you are non-Muslim Malaysian and do feel socially, politically, or economically shortchanged, then stop complaining and fretting. Do something. Instead of fretting and complaining, please make arrangements to relocate to Penang. If you have non-Muslim friends who fret and complain, then immediately persuade them to relocate to Penang.
If you are non-Muslim Malaysian and do feel socially, politically, or economically shortchanged, then stop complaining and fretting. If non-Muslim taxpayers feel shortchanged, then stop the sweating, brooding, complaining, and having nightmares. There is a solution to the nightmares and depression. Do something. Please relocate to Penang.
If non-Muslims feel that Muslim Malaysians, as taxpayers, are having a parasitical relations with non-Muslim Malaysians, then the non-Muslims must do something. What should non-Muslims do to thwart the parasitical relations with Muslim Malaysians? If you are non-Muslim, please relocate to Penang Island. The solution is relocate to Penang Island; and the Muslim Malaysians also should encourage non-Muslim Malaysians to relocate to Penang.
If the non-Muslims are opposed to the "ketuanan Melayu" ideology, then they should relocate to Penang.
Firstly, I have utmost respect for the many Malays who are so kind. However, there are some Malays who feel that the Malay forefathers made a big mistake about 100 to 150 years ago by allowing Chinese and Indian immigrants into Malaya in large numbers. What happened about 100 to 150 years ago is irreversible. That's the Malay perpective. Well, there are Malaysian citizens of Chinese and Indian ancestry who feel that their forefathers also made a big mistake relocating to Malaya. What happened about 100 to 150 years ago is irreversible. Now, just as the Malays have to tolerate non-Malays, the non-Malays have to tolerate the Malays too. There is a solution. The non-Muslims in Peninsular Malaysia should relocate to Penang. The Malays should encourage non-Muslims to relocate to Penang. It's a win-win.
Firstly, I have utmost respect for the many Malays who are so kind. However, there are some Malays who feel that the Malay forefathers made a big mistake about 100 to 150 years ago by allowing Chinese and Indian immigrants into Malaya in large numbers. What happened about 100 to 150 years ago is irreversible. That's the Malay perpective. Well, there are Malaysian citizens of Chinese and Indian ancestry who feel that their forefathers also made a big mistake relocating to Malaya. What happened about 100 to 150 years ago is irreversible. Now, just as the Malays have to tolerate non-Malays, the non-Malays have to tolerate the Malays too. There is a solution. The non-Muslims in Peninsular Malaysia should relocate to Penang. The Malays should encourage non-Muslims to relocate to Penang. It's a win-win.
Nanyang means South Seas, a reference to the South East Asain region. The Nanyang Chinese are those Chinese who relocated from China to South East Asia about 100 to 150 years ago. The contribution of the Nanyang Chinese is well documented. In parts of South East Asia the Nanyang Chinese founded many, if not most, of the towns and urban centers. The Nanyang Chinese have served South East Asia for about 100 to 150 years and are entitled to a hub and space of their own which will be Penang. (We also have the Straits Chinese). The Chinese from Peninsular Malaya, if they can, should relocate closer to Penang so that Penang will always be a Chinese majority state. The Penang Chinese should seek greater autonomy for Penang. Global geo-politics is changing and China is a rising social, political, and economic power. Amidst all these changes, Penang has to find its niche. We have to keep Penang as a Chinese majority state.
The Indians, as non-Muslims, in Malaya too have contributed to the growth and development of Malaya for 100 to 150 years. Global geo-politics is changing and China and India are rising social, political, and economic powers. Amidst all these changes, Penang has to find its niche. We have to keep Penang as a non-Muslim majority state. Both the Nanyang Chinese and the Indians in Malaya should, if they can, relocate closer to Penang. With good cooperation between China and India, the Indians and Nanyang Chinese in Malaya can benefit. Penang should be spot where the Chinese and Indian communities co-exist; and using Penang's co-existance model, both China and India can also co-exist.
We can say that the forefathers of the present Muslims in Malaya made a big mistake allowing Chinese and Indians to settle in Malaya more than 100 years ago. We can also say that Muslims benefitted enormously from the Chinese and Indian communities in Malaya. It is all about other people's money or OPM. OPM means other people's money. Over the last few decades the Muslims have benifitted by using OPM, namely taxes collected mostly from non-Muslim Malaysians. OPM has given the Muslims a free ride. Using OPM, Muslims have lived the good life. Therefore, it is time for the non-Muslim Malayans to be increasingly Penang oriented. We do have a predominantly non-Muslim government in Penang; and therefore the Chinese and Indians in Malaya should become increasingly Penang oriented.
We can say that the forefathers of the present Muslims in Malaya made a big mistake allowing Chinese and Indians to settle in Malaya more than 100 years ago. We can also say that Muslims benefitted enormously from the Chinese and Indian communities in Malaya. It is all about other people's money or OPM. OPM means other people's money. Over the last few decades the Muslims have benifitted by using OPM, namely taxes collected mostly from non-Muslim Malaysians. OPM has given the Muslims a free ride. Using OPM, Muslims have lived the good life. Therefore, it is time for the non-Muslim Malayans to be increasingly Penang oriented. We do have a predominantly non-Muslim government in Penang; and therefore the Chinese and Indians in Malaya should become increasingly Penang oriented.
Where did the Malays come from? If you ask me, I,d venture to say that Malays come from Hindu/Buddhist influence. It all depends on how far back in history we want to go back to. There is strong evidence that all 6.5 billion of us come from Africa. It is not too good to look back too much, anyway. We have to move forward. There are many new things we have to learn in this competitive world of ours. In any case, I have nothing against the Malays who are kind; and I assure you that many Malays are kind.
There is a need to understand that Straits Settlements, Federated Malay States, and Unfederated Malay States were slightly different from each other. Penang is part of the Straits Settlements and deserves greater autonomy. The goal of Penangites should be GREATER AUTONOMY. Malays should encourage non-Muslims to relocate closer to Penang because an increase in non-Muslims in Penang results in a decrease in non-Muslims in Peninsular Malaya.
Please make sure you go to the nearest Post Office to register to vote. Please exercise your right to vote.
If you do agree with me, please copy and remail it to whom it may concern. Those who receive it must in turn copy and remail it to whom it may concern. Let’s get the word around to as many people as possible. Let’s see what happens.
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