"PM Recently the Star reported "Budget to help reduce burden". The burden is of course the high cost (40 per cent increase) of oil which has triggered off an inflationary process with increases in the cost of everything. Since the withdrawal of Government subsidy for oil and the resultant "burden" on the people the Government has been announcing numerous measures to lighten the burden. Mostly they take the form of rebates, reduced taxes and cutbacks.
The idea to withdraw the subsidy is of course to save Government money. But giving money back in one form or another would reduce the savings. If it is really substantial then would it not be better if the Government simply reduce the price increase of oil from 40 per cent to 30 per cent? Better still, since Petronas' contribution to Government revenue is so big, why not reduce the price of oil further maybe to a 10 per cent increase and then gradually increase it. This would give people time to make adjustments. And maybe the wages and salaries can be adjusted upwards stage by stage. If the Government really wants to reduce the burden of the people caused by the price of oil, it should really look at the whole economy and seek ways and means to reduce the burden, not piecemeal but in a comprehensive way. Sorry. I know I am not in the Government, not even in UMNO. " - Chedet.com.myThis article was posted by Tun Dr Mahathir via his blog and his citizen-friendly opinion is highly appreciated since so many people in umno and barisan nasional prefer not to do so. I'm not going to interpret the stupidness and the arrogance of Umno & BN leaders but as far as i concern since the petrol hikes recently announced my life and everybody else's is getting worsen and continuingly worsen. This scenario which so-called as "reduce government burden on long term basis" is practically save some parties but in the other hand ruining the other party. I dont know how they justify their act just by giving rebate (for some people they call it Gula-gula) for certain amount. Maybe it helpful or maybe its not! I dont know. You tell me!
How can we manage to face such a big and enourmous hikes in order to survive. Some of the intelectual in government said we have to change our lifestyle, cut our spending, prioritised consumption etc etc.For those who have a high paying job they will have to forgone some luxurious expenses. But its okay since they still can afford to have 3 times per day meals. But for those who have small income can they cut 2 small meals into 1 or none? We the rakyat in the grassroots here is not worried about our shopping, expensive clothes, golf club fees, second or third car, but basic food to fed our family. We are angry because some people in the mercedes or perdana v6 (on the people's money of petrol) didn't realize that not all people are lucky to have their spending paid by government (rakyat actually). On the small amount of income we get, we have to manage by ourself on many things given that we also have to face a chain reactions resulted by the petrol price increases. It's like fighting a fierce monster lonely by our hand got tied to our back and blinfolded. Can you? I dont know. You tell me!
Petrol is very important nowadays and almost all commodity price in this country have a direct relationship with its price. Considering we cannot stop the price from increasing worldwide, I believe,we still can make something within our capability to fix this up instead of what were doing now. I dont know what should be done, but I believe and make believe that somebody, or someone, will come out and suggest a solution to this matter on a ground of "for the sake of people". For now I still optimist, but i dont know for how long. I stayed optimist even though some people say this scenario leads a percentage of crime cases increment, I still optimist because some other people said this price hikes is temporary events and it will ends soon, I still optimist while my petrol expenses increase 40% plus 10%-20% increase of Other goods expenses. But for how long most of malaysian can have this kind of patience? I dont know. You tell me!
While most of malaysian foods and item increase, our income had not increase yet. There are increment of civil servants' salary last year but I'm not talking about that actually. I'm talking about real money. Some people in economics they call it purchase power. If money income stays the same, but the price level increases, the purchasing power of that income falls. Inflation does always imply falling purchasing power of one's real income, since one's money income may not rise faster than inflation. Were your income rise faster than inflation? I dont know. You tell me!
Enough for the confusing facts and figures above. A few month ago, I was amazed by a posters hanged along the street which they were saying "selamat, aman, makmur" and a waving figure of a person that very influential in our country beside that promising word. I felt save, peace, and a little prosperity even though "tak dok pitih sen hanjing" pun at that times. I dont really care this much. I was saying to myself maybe this government can make some differences afterwards. How cruel the inflation or deflation can occured in our country these people could come out with special formula to help the people. It always did before. It used to be that way. People always first. But after few months I doubted it and dont really believe what I was saying to myself before. I think maybe now thyre practising 'people last' policy. Are we not in "selamat, aman, makmur" anymore? I dont know. You tell me!
