I received the
following in an e mail. I have written the same things years ago. I
believe my posting even had pictures. Here is a quick read:
These are US
car prices with US duty and import tax paid, which are just like
Malaysian car prices with duty and tax also paid, but here, you will
see, they are much lower and less exorbitant than in Malaysia.
Bear in mind all cars are CBU (complete built up) Japan, CBU South Korea or CBU Germany.
The
following cars we get here are CKD (complete knocked down) cars with
more than 50 percent Malaysian content and "supposedly" are cheaper due
to their being CKD and supporting Malaysian manufacturers.
I cannot
understand, we support our own Malaysian manufacturers and "Beli barang
buatan Malaysia" (buy local), and yet the prices can be higher than
"Barang buatan Jepun" or Jerman which is usually higher in quality.
And yet, to
make matters worse, the US GDP per capita is higher than Malaysia and
the average American earns five times more than the average Malaysian.
Mainstream car prices (comparison between US and Malaysia)
In US In Malaysia
Honda Accord US$21,480 (RM64,440) RM150,000
Honda CRV US$22,495 (RM67,485) RM150,000
Honda Civic US$15,955 (RM47,865) RM115,000
Toyota Altis US$16,130 (RM48,390) RM112,000
Toyota Camry US$22,055 (RM66,165) RM180,000
Kia Sorento US$23,150 (RM69,450) RM160,000
Hyundai Tucson US$19,245 (RM57,735) RM140,000
Hyundai Sonata US$20,895 (RM62,685) RM150,000
Hyundai Elantra US$16,695 (RM50,085) RM98,000
Luxury car prices
BMW 328i US$36,500 (RM109,500) RM300,000
BMW 528i US$46,900 (RM149,000) RM400,000
BMW 535i US$52,500 (RM157,000) RM600,000
BMW X5 US$47,500 (RM142,500) RM580,000
Mercedes E350 US$51,000 (RM153,000) RM400,000 (CKD E250)
Jaguar XF US$53,000 (RM159,000) RM500,000
Jaguar XJ US$73,700 (RM221,000) RM1,000,000
Porsche Cayenne US$48,850 (RM146,000) RM570,000
Most Malaysians pay close to 50 percent of their salary for their monthly payments for their cars. Not
only do the banks get an easy ride (cause everybody is "forced" to take
loans), we have to live in debt for over seven years, depriving our
family of better food and clothes."
The writer has a
solid point about 'Belilah Barang Buatan Malaysia' which has been part
of the Government's campaign for many, many years. There is even a
'Belilah Barang Buatan Malaysia' logo. Here it is :
And if I
remember correct the suggestion to "Beli Barang Buatan Malaysia" was
once incorporated as part of the fight against inflation - because
logically "Made in Malaysia" should be cheaper. But as the car price
list above shows, we are paying two to three times the prices of cars
than the Americans.
For your
information, just after Dato Seri Najib became the Prime Minister he met
with a few of us Bloggers at his house. Among the things I raised with
him was the very high prices of cars in Malaysia. It surely struck the
PM's ear. He listened but did not say anything.
And the last
time I wrote about this, as one comment said the "tak tahu niaga tak
tahu kira" folks came in with all sorts of really mind boggling comments
saying that car prices in Malaysia were actually cheap. Some even said
that if car prices became cheaper, then even the 'kerani' will be
driving Honda Accord. This is the feudalistic mind that still controls
peoples' minds. What
is wrong if the 'kerani' drive Honda Accord? If the "kerani" can drive
Honda Accord then the "pegawai" can drive Mercedes Benz. What is wrong
with that?
Our per capita
GDP is now about RM25,000 per annum. The Gomen wants to move us to a
higher income of RM45,000 per capita by 2020. That is an income
increment of 80% over the remaining 8 years or about 10% a year. Our
economic growth is now in the 5% to 6% range. Folks that higher income
is NOT going to happen to everyone.
(I also think
the per capita income of the Malaysian Chinese is already above
RM45,000. So are a sizeable number of Indians above this threshold) The
per capita GDP of Americans is already about RM145,000, which is almost
six times our per capita GDP. Yet the Amerivans pay only one third to
half the prices for their cars.
The Honda
Accord sells for RM64,000 in the US versus RM150,000 here in Malaysia.
Honda CRV sells for RM67,000 in the US versus RM150,000 here in
Malaysia. The BMW 528 sells for RM149,000 in the US versus RM400,000
here in Malaysia.
It is true that
Malaysians may end up paying 1/3 to 1/2 their monthly incomes for their
cars (monthly instalments plus maintenance). The Americans who earn six
times more than us pay 1/3 or 1/2 for the same cars. No business or
economic logic can justify this. The only way anyone can justify this
vast discrepancy is if you are proud, arrogant, stupid or all three.
Now here is an easy method to achieve three things :
i. raise the disposable income of our people
ii. lower the cost of living
iii. reduce Gomen expenditure
It is simple - LOWER THE SELLING PRICES OF CARS.
If a Honda
Accord sells for only RM64,000 in Malaysia (as it should) instead of
RM150,000, then your monthly car instalment will be three times less or
1/3 only. If you are paying RM1,500 per month, you may only pay RM500.
Immediately you save RM1000 - which goes to your disposable income. That
is RM12,000 a year. That is two way airfare for eight people to Beijing
and back. Travelling does open up our horizons and our minds,
especially childrens' minds. That should also improve our lives. Which
should lead to better expectations, better outlooks which can also lead
to higher incomes.
Gomen
expenditure (taxpayers funds) will be reduced because the Gomen will not
have to spend as much money to raise our incomes to RM45,000. If the burden of their monthly car instalments are reduced to 1/3 people wont feel as much of a pinch if they are not earning RM45,000 p.a.
Yes
even the kerani will be driving Honda Accords (to the chagrin of the
feudalistic dunggus). But lets prepare for that. For the Penang, JB and
KL people - spread out the urban areas. Build more townships and
business centres complete with super duper malls, hotels, hospitals,
entertainment outlets and spread them out. Spread out the factories.
Then people will not congregate in just one location.
In urban areas like KL replace major junctions like traffic lite junctions and roundabouts with flyovers and underpasses to smoothen traffic flow. It has to be an ongoing effort. As the population increases we have to keep adjusting.
Then people can live more spread out because car prices are cheaper. They can afford car ownership without breaking the piggy bank.
Even little things help. We have U turns at some traffic light juncions. You must drive to the end of the road divider and then make the U turn. In South Korea they remove the last 50 feet of the road divider and make it a "U turn Zone". So when the light is red for the opposing traffic, up to five cars can take the U turn at the same time.
So we have to constantly innovate. They say if car duties and taxes are reduced the Gomen will lose RM8.0 billion in revenue. That may be so but other tax revenue will increase because the people will spend more rom the savings they make in cheaper car prices.
In urban areas like KL replace major junctions like traffic lite junctions and roundabouts with flyovers and underpasses to smoothen traffic flow. It has to be an ongoing effort. As the population increases we have to keep adjusting.
Then people can live more spread out because car prices are cheaper. They can afford car ownership without breaking the piggy bank.
Even little things help. We have U turns at some traffic light juncions. You must drive to the end of the road divider and then make the U turn. In South Korea they remove the last 50 feet of the road divider and make it a "U turn Zone". So when the light is red for the opposing traffic, up to five cars can take the U turn at the same time.
So we have to constantly innovate. They say if car duties and taxes are reduced the Gomen will lose RM8.0 billion in revenue. That may be so but other tax revenue will increase because the people will spend more rom the savings they make in cheaper car prices.
Here is the golden rule : Jangan menyusahkan manusia. Make thing easy for the people.
You do not understand this simple rule, you invite disaster.
1 comment:
Dengan harga sekarang pun jalanraya sesak apalagi jikaharga lebih rendah, bodoh betul keling ni
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