| January 8, 2014
There are no doubts about it, price hikes is the main issue of year 2014.
Just when the Malaysian public’s focus is on price hikes, the issue of confiscated Bibles suddenly pops up.
But at the end of the day this Bible issue will definitely fizzle out and the only issue left standing is none other than the price hikes.
There are no doubts about it, price hikes is the main issue of year 2014.
All other issues will never be able to top this issue because price hikes affects everyone’s pocket.
Even those in the poor and lower income group not interested in politics will now take an interest in the current events unfolding in our nation.
This columnist interviewed the urban poor of Jinjang Selatan, Kuala Lumpur. All interviewed expressed their disappointment in the BN government for implementing the price hikes.
A senior citizen who wanted to be known only as Ng is of the view that the government has absolutely failed in economic management.
Many of the interviewees voiced anger at the government’s failure to halt wastages and leakages outlined in the annual Auditor General’s Report.
It is pointless for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to say that he understands the difficulties faced by the rakyat in these current hard times when he is not doing anything to alleviate their burdens.
Right now, his only solution is BR1M. Besides BR1M, what else? Zero, zilch, nil, nothing!
As he is clueless, perhaps he should just increase the BR1M amount to RM1,200 to be paid out next month.
Granted, this does not solve the problem but as long as corruption is rampant, there is no way the economic situation can be remedied.
In addition to the above, this columnist’s banker friend is questioning the official figure of the national debt which is reported as RM531 billion, while the nation’s reserves is RM460 billion.
If the official national debt figure is correct, there should be no problem. Can we therefore deduce that one of the figures is bunkum?
Reducing the ministers’ allowance is no big deal if wastages and leakages continue to drain the nation’s coffers.
This shows that Najib is not focusing on solving the problem at the root cause.
Najib should go
Commenting on the current price hike situation, PAS Shah Alam MP, Khalid Samad has this to say:
“The least Najib can do is to step down and admit that he has failed. That is all there is to it.”
As everyone can see, Najib is not doing anything to remedy the current economic malaise.
He is just beating about the bush and doing the normal ‘super-spin’ by saying, “reducing subsidies is good for the nation” and “the rakyat will just have to tighten their belts for the good of one and all”.
“All his words are just words without substance. He is doing nothing to help the people,” remarked Khalid.
The prime minister must realise that he has broken his election promises and his advice for the people to accept the subsidy reduction seems hollow as people can now see that his election promises was just empty rhetoric.
The least he can do right now is to reduce the price of RON95 petrol from RM2.10 back to RM1.90.
When the rakyat’s pockets are under siege, whatever Najib says is just water off a duck’s back. The people, especially the urban poor will not listen and not be bothered with whatever he says.
It is time for Najib to wake up to the fact that many people already think of him as a promise-breaker.
He should do something concrete to help the ordinary rakyat.
“There should be no more price increases this year. After all, GST (Goods & Services Tax) is to be implemented in April next year.
“Najib should step down if he has no idea on how to manage the economy effectively without burdening the people,” added Khalid.
It must be noted that PM Najib has also failed to realise that raising the price of petrol and electricity tariff sets off a chain of spiral effects causing inflation to soar.
Perhaps the prime minister should brush up his skills in economic management?
Selena Tay is a DAP member and a FMT columnist.
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