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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Populist policies will hit us hard
Silence is easy
A manifesto that hoodwinks voters
Busy fighting the enemy within
Hey, where's my share?

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:44 PM PST

Tay Tian Yan, TMI

There is a country well endowed with natural resources and boasting a highly efficient, incorrupt government. Her citizens nevertheless have to pay pretty hefty taxes. Income tax rate is as high as 40 per cent, not to mention an additional 10 per cent consumer tax.

This country is most positively rich. I'm not going to keep you in suspense. It's Australia.

But sorry, Australia doesn't provide free tertiary education. On the contrary, tuition fees are sky high, about A$30,000 (RM96,000) a year for an ordinary university, and this figure is growing at an annual rate of 10 per cent.

There are three ways young Australians can gain access to universities:

1. Their families provide part of the expenses, and some parents actually emphasise they have secured loans for their children's education.

2. Bank loans, which will have to be paid back upon graduation.

3. Part-time jobs such as restaurant waiters, apple pickers, etc.

It's hard indeed, but for the sake of better future prospects, exorbitant prices still have to be paid.

Australian students are a very practical lot. All that they can wish for is not-so-drastic increases in tuition fees and more humane bank interest rates. Alternatively, they can count on their parents to fork out a little more.

They don't take to the streets, demanding the government take over their burdens for the simple reason that they made the choice of attending the universities themselves, and should therefore not get the public to share their burdens.

The opposition parties never pledge free tertiary education as they know they won't be able to honour it anyway.

There is another country endowed with reasonable resources. The government is of mediocre efficiency and accountability levels.

The tax rate in this country is not that high, being capped at 26 per cent, but given the not-so-high income levels of ordinary wage earners, such a rate appears to be pretty unbearable.

This country is by no means a wealthy state, at best a middle-income country. You might have guessed it. It's Malaysia.

It won't be too hard for young Malaysians to attend universities. There are so many of them around, in fact way too many!

Tuition fees can be as low as RM2,000 to RM3,000 a year for public universities, RM30,000 to RM40,000 (non-medical courses) for private universities.

Young Malaysians need not beg for bank loans or work part-time to pay their tuition fees.

If they go to a government university, 90 per cent of the expenses have already been absorbed by the government (from taxpayers' pockets to be exact). The remaining 10 per cent can be settled with PTPTN loans (which many use to acquire the latest smartphones).

If they opt for a private university, they need both the PTPTN and family support.

READ MORE HERE

Silence is easy

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:08 PM PST

Let's start by speaking up. I am Muslim. And I love dogs.

Elza Irdalynna, Free Malaysia Today

By now, many Malaysians are aware of Pak Mie and his heroic deeds of rescuing and caring for over 500 dogs in Alor Setar, Kedah.

Most of us are amazed by his spirit, and have even rallied together to help him in his cause.

Yet a note that keeps recurring in the articles and videos that feature Pak Mie and his wife is one that disgusts me, as I'm sure it has for anyone with a heart.

Despite Pak Mie's purest intentions, a majority of his Malay community has shunned and condemned him, labelling him as an infidel and morally corrupt.

Why are the Muslims of this country (particularly the Malay Muslim group) so filled with hate toward the canine species? Growing up, I was ill-informed and learned that Muslims weren't allowed to own dogs.

I later understood that this was a simplified version of the teachings, and untrue. Dogs are considered to be dirty, and there are specific ways to cleanse oneself according to Islam when touching a dog when it's wet or its feces and urine.

However, it was and had never been haram for a Muslim to own a dog.

Why the silence?

Yet it is common for many Malaysians to see dogs getting beaten, objects or hot boiling water thrown at them, and I've even heard of cases where razor blades are stuffed into sausages and fed to the dogs.

A friend of mine had his dog poisoned by his Malay neighbour. Dogs aren't just considered a nuisance by this group of people; they're a target for violence.

Still, what angers me most is not the cruelty of these misguided Malay Muslims. What makes me angry is the silence of other Muslim dog lovers.

I know there are plenty of us out there who not only are against cruelty towards dogs, but are also Muslims who own dogs. Yet whenever such disgusting acts take place, where is your voice?

Why must we keep our ownership a secret? We fear judgment and so we leave the fight for the rights of these animals to the non-Muslim community.

Last October, I lost my six-month-old Shetland Sheepdog in a hit-and-run. We were coming back from our morning walk, and his leash fell out of my hand. He ran back to the park near our house.

When I caught up to him, his dying body was twitching in the middle of the road, his head soaked in blood.

As I cradled my baby, neighbours rushed to my side. I was touched by their assistance – one ran back to her house to get some blankets, another went to get a bag, and two other dog owners walked me home, comforting me. I am forever grateful to them for their kindness.

Jaqen was a very friendly dog. He was popular among the kids and other dog owners at our park, and would show off his "fetching" skills when we played ball.

But I recall little kids who played with him, asking me, "Are you Malay?", and upon my reply would say, "My mother says Malays cannot have dogs." I would patiently correct each misinformed child but I was annoyed at how parents nonchalantly pass this information to their children.

It's bad enough you hate dogs; must you also teach your children to do the same?

A manifesto that hoodwinks voters

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:52 AM PST

People in a peaceful rally against the Selangor government for failing to provide preschool allowance as promised in the 12th general election manifesto. Selangor menteri besar has stated that a manifesto is not a promise.

NOT COST-EFFECTIVE: It's baffling why Pakatan is insisting on emulating bankrupt countries

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, NST

PAKATAN Rakyat has unveiled its manifesto. It is all about reducing government revenues and increasing spending.

This is to be achieved by lowering taxes, reducing the number of taxpayers by raising tax-free allowances, doing away with tolls, and more.

On the other hand, the salary bill will be increased because of an increase in minimum wage, there will be free education for everyone and roads and highways will be built and maintained.

With 1.1 million employees, the government's salary bill is very big. By increasing the minimum wage to RM1,100, not only will those drawing less than the minimum wage get an increase but those earning more must also be given a wage increase to maintain their status as superiors to those below them.

The salary scales of all grades will have to be increased in order to do this. It is not about raising the salaries and wages of those earning below the minimum wage only. This will be in addition to the RM2 billion because of the recent rise of the minimum pay to RM900.

The cost of education will also increase by more than RM2 billion because of free education.

The repair and maintenance of highways will also run into several billions of ringgit.

Currently, the cost of petrol subsidies is about RM18 billion. If petrol prices were to be lowered, then several more billions of ringgit will have to be added to government subsidy.

On the other hand, revenues will decrease by several billions of ringgit with taxes lowered, the number of people paying taxes reduced and highways made toll-free.

Revenues will also decrease as higher wages for the business sector are bound to reduce profits as well as the taxes paid to the government. Some businesses may have to close down or move to other countries. There will be less investment, both foreign and domestic. And more unemployment.

At one time, the manufactured goods sold in Malaysia carried European brands. Today, they are almost all from Japan, Korea and China. Except for German cars, all the motor vehicles on the roads are from Asian countries.

For decades, the Europeans and Americans have been increasing wages and providing perks to their workers. The prices of their products increased accordingly and could not compete in the market. They lost the market.

But they keep increasing their high cost of living. Today, they are facing an irreversible financial crisis. Greece, Spain, Portugal and even Italy are on the verge of bankruptcy or have become bankrupt. Even Britain and France are in financial trouble.

The United States is also in deep financial crisis. It faces the need to reduce government spending (sequestration) or increase taxes.

Sequestration will mean less money for education, healthcare and defence. The number of teachers would have to be reduced. Even the control towers at some airports would have to cease operations. Military bases, weapons and personnel would have to be reduced. An austerity programme will slow down growth and increase unemployment.

Like the Europeans, the Americans also do not like to reduce their spending. They refuse to pay more taxes. In fact, the rich are demanding tax reduction.

The financial crisis in Europe and America is basically because of overspending. Until they cut back on their spending and increase taxes, their economy will not recover.

Pakatan's manifesto advocates the very things that have bankrupted Europe and America.

If Pakatan is responsible, it should work out the cost. It is not too difficult to do this as government employees' salaries as well as developmental and maintenance needs are known.

We know the number of people who will get a pay increase; we know the cost of maintaining educational and healthcare institutions; we know the cost of maintaining roads and highways; and we know the cost of development.

Instead of merely commenting, economists and financiers should work out the mathematics. Then, the people will understand what the manifesto really represents.

But, on the other hand, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has said a manifesto is not a promise. Obviously, Pakatan is preparing to renege on its manifesto.

This is not surprising. In Selangor, the Pakatan government has failed to honour its promise, including providing free water and allowance for single mothers.

Pakatan's manifesto is obviously meant to hoodwink the electorate.

Busy fighting the enemy within

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:39 AM PST

Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has survived several health scares and is moving to secure his Mentri Besar post as well as to put in place his choice of successor in Kedah.

Joceline Tan, The Star

IT is quite fortunate that Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has a great sense of humour given the periodic speculation about his health.

The Kedah Mentri Besar has grown quite used to people imagining that he is about to meet his maker.

For instance, there was a death in his house on the outskirts of Alor Setar last Sunday. His sister-in-law, the elder sibling of Azizan's first wife, had passed away and there were cars parked outside the house and people milling about.

When a reporter called to tell him that people had wondered what was going on, he quipped: "Is that why you phoned me? To ask if I had died?"

That is why many reporters like him he is terribly witty when in a good mood and sharp-tongued when feeling grouchy, but never boring.

Actually, Azizan is looking quite healthy these days. He seems to be responding to treatment after a series of health scares over the past year. He has put a bit of weight back on and looks like his old distinguished self.

However, curiosity over the activity at his house last weekend had more to do with his political health.

For the last week or so, PAS supporters had been staging protests against Azizan with some of them going to the extent of asking him to step down.

As such when people heard about the busy scene at Azizan's house, they thought he was bowing to the pressure to call it a day.

It was wishful thinking because that is the last thing on his mind. Azizan has made it clear that he will be leading his party into the general election. He intends to defend his Sungai Limau seat and he has not discounted the fact that he will still be Mentri Besar after the election.

His supporters argue that if Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is 81 and sickly, is still contesting the election, Azizan who is 13 years younger can do the same.

But the problem is that Azizan is planning to put his opponents in PAS out of his way. He has submitted a fresh list of election candidates to the PAS central leadership that will effectively cut his opponents off from below the knee.

In the new list, Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi, who is Azizan's chief threat to the Mentri Besar post, will be sent from the Pengkalan Kundor state seat to the Jerlun parliamentary seat. Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh andDatuk Dr Hamdan Mohd Khalid, the two assemblymen aligned to Phahrolrazi, will be dropped.

It was as good as sending Phahrolrazi, who is the party's No 2 man in Kedah, into political exile. Phahrolrazi's state seat is located in the Kuala Kedah area where he is also the PAS division chief. Being sent to Jerlun is akin to being plucked from a tree in his own garden and chucked into a new and hostile backyard to grow anew.

But who can blame Azizan for wanting Phahrolrazi out of the way? Phahrolrazi's group had tried but failed to topple Azizan when he was lying on a hospital bed recovering from a heart attack.

Azizan would have to continually look over his shoulder if Phahrolrazi continues as an assemblyman.

Last year, Phahrolrazi declined to be reappointed as a state exco member. The PAS central leadership had to intervene and when Phahrolrazi relented and rejoined the state exco, Azizan demoted him to a less important portfolio and promoted another loyalist Datuk Taulan Mat Rasul over Phahrolrazi.

The state civil servants say the two men are barely talking. However, the two nemeses exchanged broad plastic smiles and even shook hands in front of their president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang during the Chinese New Year do in Alor Setar.

Phahrolrazi was on a talk show on Astro Awani last week during which he described his boss as a three-cylinder engine car. As everyone knows, a three-cylinder car is economical to maintain but it cannot go as fast as, say, the BMW, which has a six-cylinder engine.

Phahrolrazi is an engineer and it was his way of saying that the Mentri Besar was under-performing when he should be zooming ahead at the speed of a BMW car. And if that was not enough, he said he was prepared to take on the top job if that is what the top leadership wanted.

It was a touchy interview and the boss did not appreciate being described as a three-cylinder vehicle.

Hey, where's my share?

Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:31 AM PST

The irony is, all these goodies are coming out of my tax dollars. Yet, because I am single, over 30, earn a living income and already have purchased an apartment (closer to hovel when you consider property prices in PJ), I get zippo.

N. Shashi Kala, fz.com

I HAVE a confession to make... with all the talk of elections and goodies being handed out willy nilly, I'm feeling kinda left out.

I mean, there's BR1M for senior citizens and for those from poor households, RM200 smartphone rebate for youths under 30, RM200 book vouchers for students, RM100 school aid for each child, Kedai Makan 1Malaysia for cheap meals, KR1M for household goods, PR1MA for first-time house buyers, TR1M for taxi drivers and a host of other goodies.

Yes, I fall squarely in the middle class with high taxes and few reliefs or rebates (the yearly RM1,000 book rebate is one few I enjoy).

The rich – who usually have their own businesses – tend to find ways to avoid paying or at least substantially reduce the amount of taxes they pay (thanks to creative accounting and undeclared income stashed overseas).

But for salaried employees like me, the IRD gets first dibs on my money even before I do.

It has been years since the government has shown any kindness to those like me, for whom finishing a 7-year car loan is cause for celebration – never mind that the repairs bills have been on the up and up.

Also, I suspect that those in this group are among the more regular charitable donors, as they have more disposable income.

You could say that, hey, you're not exactly suffering, so why do you need help? But that's not quite true.

My generation bought our homes by ourselves – we did not have the luck of having our parents put down a hefty down payment for it. We left home right after school (to work or go to uni) and never moved back in.

When I wanted to buy my first car, I used my savings and took a loan to buy a small, second-hand Charade. The monthy loan repayment cost RM384, a huge sum for someone pulling slightly less than a thousand salary.

Nowadays, most of the twenty-somethings I know drive brand new Myvis or Protons paid for by their parents.

I guess the point I am trying to make is that nothing was given to us – we worked hard to get here. And cost of living increases strike us just as hard.

Escalating cost of private healthcare, and car prices that border on the ridiculous (seriously, paying 300K or more for a depreciating asset is ludicrous, unless you are very rich) are just some of the examples.

We are stuck in between the rich – for whom shelling out 20K for a handbag is just a shopping footnote - and the poor who end up diluting infant formula purchased at Kedai 1Malaysia to make it last longer.

We are stuck in middle class hell and it feels like all our hard-earned money is being siphoned off as handouts to special interest groups. But these kind of populist, one-off measures do nothing to improve the lot of the poor.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Jumaat, 1 Mac 2013