MALAYSIA IS SO VERY VERY EXPENSIVE

Whither Malaysia in 2010 and beyond if still under UMNO/BN control

More bullshit, empty talk, misrepresentation, and goods and services being extremely expensive relative to the meagre incomes * of most people?

This unfortunately accurately sums up Malaysia these days.

*see below for some one to one comparisons

Acronyms are springing up ad nausea, such as:

1Malaysia

National Key Result Areas (NKRAs)

The Government Transformation Programme(GTP)

These, and many other deceptive, devious, daft policies, are resulting in hours of meaningless dumb arse drivel, UMNO/BN is evidently, it seems, trying to hoodwink folks into believing they are reforming themselves for the benefit of the country, but in reality the status qua remains.

Corruption is still alive and well

The rich selfish minority get ever richer

The majority get more and more poor

Najib and his sidekicks still seem to believe that bullshit baffles brains!

BUT THOSE WHO HAVE TRANSGRESSED, HAD BETTER GET READY TO FACE THE MUSIC.

THINGS WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE PEOPLE IN DUE TIME.

SOONER OR LATER THE CORRUPT, THE AVARISTS, THE CHEATERS, THE CORRUPT, THE DEVILS IN DISGUISE, THE SELFISH, THE EGOISTIC, THE SELF IMPORTANT, THE USERS OF RELIGION TO CONTROL OTHERS, THE HYPOCRITES, THE DECEITFUL, THE GREEDY, THE VULGARLY RICH AND ALL OTHER REPROBATES WILL, AS AS HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD, SOON FEEL THE WRATH OF THE PEOPLE.

On 18^th December 2009 it was reported in The Star:

Almost 50,000 households living below the poverty line will get aid to lift them up under a new poverty eradication programme.

“We hope to raise the level of households nationwide that are currently earning RM440 and below by the end of 2010,” said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil.

If their household income is less than RM440, then these families are well and truly destitute and this brings great shame to Malaysia.

Sharizat should be trying to raise their incomes to a basic minimum of 4,400

In my opinion:

A working person in Malaysia, based on the cost of things, should earn at least RM 5,000 to be able to live to a reasonable living standard.

Why does Malaysia not have a minimum wage?

Things are so expensive if one considers that there are millions in Malaysia who earn less that RM 1,000 per month.

If one compares the wages and price in the United Kingdom with wages and prices in Malaysia on a one to one, unit income to unit cost basis, the outcome is shocking,

WAGES

In the UK the National Minimum Wage (NMW) is ₤ 5.80 per hour.

To explain in more detail, there are three levels of minimum wage, and the rates from 1st October 2009 are:

• £5.80 per hour for workers aged 22 years and older

• a development rate of £4.83 per hour for workers aged 18-21 inclusive

• £3.57 per hour for all workers under the age of 18, who are no longer of compulsory school age.

Thus almost all workers aged 18 and over are entitled to the National Minimum Wage (NMW).

• The NMW for those aged 22 and over is £5.80.

• There is a lower minimum wage of £4.83 for those aged 18 to 21.

• Freelance and temporary workers are entitled to the minimum wage.

• Workers aged 16 and 17 (except apprentices) are entitled to a minimum of £3.57 per hour.

Workers' average pay must be at or above the minimum wage for each 'pay reference period'.

• The 'pay reference period' is the worker's actual pay period, up to a maximum of a month.

• Premium payments (eg overtime at time-and-a-half) cannot be included when calculating whether the worker has been paid the minimum wage. Only the standard hourly rate portion of the overtime payment can be counted.

Hours worked will depend on the type of work the worker does.

NOTE: the NMW increases periodically to take into account the rate of inflation.

Based on a 40 hour working week, the UK minimum personal income will be 928 units of currency per month of four weeks.

In Malaysia there is no minimum wage

In Malaysia an ordinary working person may earn a minimum of 928 units of currency, or perhaps a little more, per month. The poverty level is however mysteriously set at an ridiculously low 440

Now let us compare prices in the United Kingdom and Malaysia.

PRICES [in units of currency]

Petrol costs per litre

UK Vehicle Fuel Prices for Thursday 17th Dec 2009

Avg. Min. Max.

Unleaded :1.08 1.039 1.219

Diesel: 1.097 1.059 1.229

LRP: 1.129 1.059 1.169

Super: 1.149 1.069 1.259

Vehicle Gas

LPG: 0.576 0.499 0.699

In Malaysia current (December 2009) vehicle fuel costs are fixed by the government:-

Petrol RON 97 2.05,

Petrol RON 95 1.80 (may increase up to a reported 'unsubsidised' RM 3.00 on early 2010)

Diesel 1.70

Liquid Gas, Vehicle is 0.68

Highway tolls

In the UK there are none apart from a few short stretches of motorway and a few bridges.

In Malaysia all highways are toll roads, so the cost of driving is very high, one can in fact, at least double the price of the petrol use by an average car for a journey. Toll rates are every increasing too.

Motorcars Prices [in units of currency]

New cars:

UK

HONDA JAZZ Price Range: 10,575 - 13,535

PERODUA KENARI Price Range: 6,620 - 7,418

PERODUA MYVI Price Range: 6,620 - 7,418

Malaysia

HONDA JAZZ (cheapest model) 104,800.00

PERODUA KENARI GX AERO (cheapest model) (M) 41,263.10

PERODUA MYVI (cheapest model) 38,934.10

Second-hand cars:

In the UK, second-hand cars are very cheap, it is possible to buy a roadworthy car for as low as ₤ 500.

In Malaysia, second-hand cars are very expensive, even a ten year old almost junk car can cost over 5,000

Foodstuffs

Foodstuff too are far cheaper in the UK, see the list below and compare the costs you pay in Malaysia, in units of currency:

Bread

Large sliced multi-grain loaf 2.00

Six wholemeal bread buns 0.60

Cheese

Stilton 650 gm piece 5.00

Cheddar cheese 250 gm 2.00

Milk

Fresh full cream milk 2 x 4 pints 3.00

Butter

250gm 1.00

Table margarine 500 gm. 1.10

Ice Cream (luxury make)

Ben & Jerrys 500 ml 3.98

Vegetable Oil (Rapeseed or Sunflower) 1 litre 0.98

Organic potatoes 1.5 kg 1.25

Eggs, medium (12) 1.50

Mandarin oranges (6) 1.40

Apples, small Cox (8) 1.00

Rice (Thai) 1kg 0.99

The list goes on and on.

That is really food for thought!

So who is getting the shitty end of the stick?

Those in Malaysia earning 928 units of currency or those minimum wage earners in UK earning 928 units of currency?

You judge for yourself.

Ab amicis honesta petamus

We must ask what is proper from our friends

Ab ovo usque ad mala

From the egg right to the apples (From start to finish)

Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat

The mind intent upon false appearances refuses to admit better things

-25.5 % MALAYSIA!

MANUFACTURING SALES - GOING DOWN!

Malaysian manufacturing sales, a key driver of the economy, dived 25.5 per cent year on year in June 2009

Click HERE to read the news story in detail

&

UNEMPLOYMENT - GOING UP!

“The number of people employed in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for about a third of Malaysia's gross domestic product, dropped 7.8 per cent from the same period” in 2008

Have not seen this mentioned in the Malaysian media, I wonder why?

Historia est vitae magistra

History is the tutor of life

Fallaces sunt rerum species

The appearance of things is deceptive

The Latest Malaysian Government Economic Stimulus Pakage

Here are some opinions from the medical fraternity.

I think you will all like this!
Well maybe not ALL!


The Malaysian Economic Stimulus Package

The medical fraternity in Malaysia has plenty to say about the RM60bil new economic stimulus package.

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all labouring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.

The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.

The Anaesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the arseholes in Putrajaya.


Monstra mihi pecuniam!


Show me the money!

Recession is on the way, better pay attention Malaysia

Does the Malaysian finance minister, none other than DPM Najib Razak, realise that the proverbial shit is about to hit the fan?

Perhaps he is too pre-occupied with other matters to know, or even care?

Malaysia is certainly far from being recession-proof!

According to the government subservient main-stream media in Malaysia, 'everything in the garden in lovely'.

The Star reports Malaysia's second finance minister as saying "Malaysia unlikely to enter recession" see HERE


But what is the situation in the real world?


Click, to read what other think, HERE

EXTRACT:

"Well, if they have been reading reports closely, they would see that palm oil and crude oil prices have plunged also.

Local newspapers have not been reporting the meltdown on a big scale. The coverage is still mainly limited to the business or foreign sections, and tend to present the 'official' side of things.

In today's publication of The Star, the biggest English daily, a story on local banks focused on the positives."

For the Star story about local banks, click HERE

A fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi



A precipice in front, wolves behind

PETROL PRICE TO RISE AT MIDNIGHT: Fill up now!

PETROL TO GO UP BY 78 sen to RM2.70 per litre at 00:00 5th June 2008

Just seen this on malaysiakini.

"The Malaysian government has just announced that petrol price to go up by 78 sen at midnight tonight - a 40.6 percent jump from RM1.92 per litre to RM2.70."

The price for regular petrol per litre goes up by 74 sen.

Diesel will go up by RM1 per litre.

Stand by for major price rises all across the board.

TNB is sure to raise the tariff for electricity too.

Make more holes in your belts folks.

So much for all the bullshit in the last couple of days, when they said it would go up in August.

"Never believe anything in politics until it has been officially denied."

- Otto von Bismarck

MORE MALAYSIAN TAX-PAYERS’ MONEY DOWN THE DRAIN

RICH v POOR

The Malaysian government is using tax-payers’ money to the tune of RM1.10 million per annum, to benefit just three people.

MP Zulkifli Nordin (PKR-Kulim Bandar Baru) reportedly said former women and community development minister Shahrizat Jalil received RM404,726.40 (= RM 33,727.20 per month) and Hamid Othman RM549,675 a year (= RM 45,808.25 per month) just for being merely advisers to the prime minister.

[Shahrizat reportedly advises on Welfare issues, while Hamid advises on Islamic affairs]

It was also stated in written reply from PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed receives a total of RM180,000 per annum (RM 15,000 per month) after retirement.

After all, "The gap between the rich and the poor is not very much"

That is a total of RM 1.1 million expended for just three individuals, what a disgraceful waste of tax payers’ money.

Zulkifli said the RM1.1 million could have been utilised instead for other more important things, for example building 36 houses for the poor.

Such wasteful, and what seems to be unnecessary, expenditure is totally unacceptable, more so when the PM and others ministers have recently advised the people to adjust their lifestyles and tighten their belts!

Hundred's of millions of Ringgit are also being pored down the drain on wasteful and unnecessary projects, both at the state and federal levels.

It is indeed shameful, truly shameful.

Non omne quod licet honestum est

- Not everything that is permitted is honest

The dwindling rice bowl of Malaysia

PM says: We’ll produce more rice

Malaysia's PM says efforts will be made to increase rice production in the country to meet a possible rice shortage in the future.

PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stated Malaysia’s current policy was to produce 65% of its rice needs and import the remainder.

“However, if other countries don’t want to sell rice to us, it will have a negative effect on our people.”

“As such, the government will try to increase rice production in the country so that we can meet 100% of our demand. We want to ensure that we have food security,” he told a press conference in Kuching after meeting Sarawak’s BN elected representatives and component party leaders on Friday 4^th April 2008.

I wonder how many percent of the rice consumed in Malaysia is being imported, I hazard a guess it is at least 50%, (in the shops one can see rice imported from Thailand, Pakistan, India, Cambodia, Austraia, the USA, Japan, Italy and elsewhere) does anyone know?

Sarawak CM Abdul Taib Mahmud had evidently brought up the issue of the possibility of a future shortage of rice. He also asked for federal government funding and assistance to set up large-scale rice padi estates in Sarawak.

Meanwhile in many parts of Peninsular Malaysia, rice is no longer grown.

Even in the rice bowls of Malaysia Kedah and Perlis, rice cultivation is declining due to development projects which occupy, and therefore destroy prime agricultural land formerly used for the cultivation of rice.

More such projects are in the pipeline, and these threaten to further reduce rice production, since many acres of paddy fields will be destroyed.

Abdullah is, it seems, just talking the talk, certainly rice self sufficiency is vital for Malaysia, but urgent affirmative and effective action is required to achieve this essential goal.

Non semper erit aestas

- It will not always be summer (be prepared for hard times)

Potential Malaysian visitors to Australia make up the biggest nationality group to be turned away

MALAYSIANS are the biggest nationality group who are being refused entry into Australia, according to the Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Penny Williams.

The Sin Chew Daily newspaper quoted Williams as saying that there were syndicates who were trying to con Malaysians to work in Australia by using a valid Electronic Travel Authority.

“Some of them are not aware that they cannot work in Australia with ETA. Many also are not aware that once they are caught by the Australian immigration authorities, they will be banned from entering Australia for at least a few years,” she said in an interview with the Chinese language daily newspaper.

She said those interested to work or stay in Australia should apply for a proper visa from the Australian High Commission.

This phenomenon is an indication of a disturbing trend, which is perhaps the symptom of the distressed labour market in Malaysia.

Unrealistically low wages in Malaysia mean that many people are finding it increasingly difficult to make ends meet. Price increases have overtaken wages, which generally remain very low and are virtually stagnant.

Consequently there are many Malaysians who are being proactive in the best way they can, and they are trying to work overseas in order to be able to better provide for their families.

Foreign workers are being brought it to work, they are paid, what can only be described as slave wages, and they are forced therefore to live in overcrowded and unsatisfactory accommodation.

See this POST for an example

The government should view this matter seriously, as the future and also the reputation of the country are at stake.

Firm and bold steps need to be taken to ensure that these disturbing symptoms are properly treated before they eat the heart and soul out of Malaysia.

Dum inter homines sumus, colamus humanitatem

- As long as we are among humans, let us be humane.

Wither Malaysia?

New Penang State Government says it will no longer follow a controversial central government policy (the NEP) favouring the ethnic Malay above other citizens.

Source:NST. GE Votes

Penang is one of five states now governed by the opposition coalition, (or as it wishes to be called at Federal Level ‘The Alternative Government’) after General Elections on Saturday 8 March 2008 resulted in massive losses, at both the Federal and State Government levels, to be suffered by the Barison Nasional (BN), National Font Coalition, this was BNs worst election result in five decades.

The large Chinese and Indian minorities, and other ethnic groups, as well as many Malay, have become increasingly angry about this so called New Economic Policy (NEP), many of whom say that it has only benefited only an elite few.

The NEP was started nearly 40 years ago, as an to attempt increase opportunities for poorer ethnic Malay, by giving them preference in jobs, university places and economic advantages, however it has in many respects failed to achieve it's intended goals, and has even been counter-productive in some ways.

As a result of this policy, some Malay have come to expect ‘hand-outs’ as a right, and this subsidence mentality has, without doubt, made a few of them lazy and lackadaisical; whilst it has made a small minority filthy rich. The economy has therefore suffered.

The Malay as a whole remain poor, whilst the top few percent are revoltingly rich. Many Chinese Indians and other races remain poor too

Ousted UMNO politician Zakaria Md Deros of the palatial family palace of Port Klang, who passed away yesterday after having a massive heart attack (he received Divine retribution for his myriad of sins?) was one such filthy rich person, but there are lots more.

"This is also a government that believes in equal opportunity and social economic justice. We are here to build a dynamic Penang for all," Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said.

A coalition of opposition parties won control four states of Penang, Kedah, Perak and Selangor, and coalition member the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) retained control of Kelantan, making a total of five states; leaving the governing coalition in control of only eight states, two of them, Sabah and Sarawak, are in East Malaysia on the island of Borneo..

The opposition coalition will, it has been reported, implement fresh and more democratic policies, ranging from business-friendly and free-market environment, to promoting greater accountability and transparency in business dealings, in all the four states it has won, and continuing the progress of Kelantan State

Parti Kedadilan Rakyat (Peoples’ Justice party) adviser Anwar Ibrahim has said that the coalition would have a “zero-tolerance policy on corruption” and also “prohibit civil servants from doing business with the government” thereby reducing incentives for cronyism.

“We will stop the practice of awarding projects to family relatives and cronies.

“The party will also honour its promises to protect the marginalised from every ethnic community,” he reportedly told a press conference at the peoples' Justice Party office yesterday.

Adding that:

“The coalition would also initiate dialogues in the coming weeks with existing foreign investors in the five states to ensure investor confidence remains strong during the transitional period.”

Referring to the fall in the stock market on Monday, Anwar said it was due to the surprise opposition win and would not persist unless the Barisan Nasional chooses to punish the states it lost by withholding their development funds.

Anwar also has said the new coalition of parties in the opposition-held states would make decisions by consensus.

“This means the core principle of good governance and respecting constitutional rights is maintained.”

“For example, there is no way we will tolerate the Chief Ministers or state executive council members buying new cars or having posh offices.”

“They can use whatever they have.”

Anwar also said there was a possibility the Opposition might form a shadow Cabinet (an Alternative Government) to monitor ministers appointed by Barisan Nasional .

Viva Malaysia!

Malaysian Government Imports Food, true or false?

Cut & Paste- Beef? or BULL?

The Star reported on 28 December 2007 as follows:

Under the Headline: “Govt still needs to import food........."

“THE Government will continue to import food if local production and supply are still unable to meet the demand of the country.

Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Shariff Omar said beef, mutton, rice and vegetables were still being imported from neighbouring countries as the country was still short of being self-sufficient.

He said the country was 72% self-sufficient in rice production and targeted to be at 100% self-sufficient by the year 2010 following efforts to produce 10 metric tones of rice per hectare.

“We are also importing a lot of mutton and beef. Our local breeders are producing only 22% of beef for local consumption.

“We are importing about 23,000 metric tonnes of beef, mostly from India, monthly,” he said when met at his service centre, near Butterworth, yesterday.

Mohamad Shariff said the country was producing only 8% of mutton for local demand and hoped to increase it to 18% by the year 2010.

He said the Government was importing some 4,000 metric tonnes of mutton monthly."

Questions:

1. Does Mohamad Shariff really expect Malaysians to believe that the Government imports this food?

(I doubt it this is true, surely the food is imported by private companies, not directly by the Malaysian Government.

It is of course a fact that the Malaysian Government tries to interfere and control each and every aspect of life in Malaysia, but it seems that now even the food is, according to Shariff, being directly imported by the Barisan National collation Government.

2. Pray tell, where are the Government Run Shops which sell, or perhaps even give away, this imported food?

SAY 'NO' TO BULLSHIT!

Kampai!

Will Malaysians Soon Be Sleeping on the Streets?

In the true spirit of free speech, this letter is posted verbatim.

It has been posted elsewhere, and has been widely distributed by email.

The letter from "Little Bird" is also worth a place here.

“Malaysians May End Up Sleeping in the Street

Sunday, 06 January 2008, by ‘Little Bird’

Indonesia is one of the world's most richest countries in terms of natural resources.

God has blessed Indonesia with gold, uranium, copper, oil, timber, beaches, seas and other wealth.

The land is fertile with abundant rain. Stick a twig into the ground and it grows into a tree. Yet Indonesians sleep in the streets.

Food is expensive. The average Indonesian eats some rice, tempe, tauhu and maybe some vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner - everyday. An average Nasi Padang meal for four persons in a single star Indonesian restaurant can cost RM60.00 (160,000 Rupiah).

This is way beyond the income of the average Joko or Ketut in Indonesia.

Why is this so?

The answer is because the ruling elites in Indonesia do not care about the people. They have pillaged the country. They craft policies that only serve to keep the elites in power and the wealthy.

The same thing is happening in Malaysia.

There are also millions of Indonesians who go to school and university but do not learn skills that can help them survive in the real world. They are very poor in European languages like English or Dutch. All their education is in Indonesian. So they cannot keep up with the latest developments and technologies.

They cannot compete. They remain poor.

The children of the elite are sent overseas for their education. An average Indonesian university graduate cannot bring world class skills to his employers. He or she therefore earns a pittance.

This is happening in Malaysia. Bumiputra university graduates only strike it rich if they get Government jobs where they do not do much work but earn a good salary with a pension.

In the private sector they may not get a job or earn only a pittance. That is why 100,000 graduates remain unemployed in Malaysia.

Bumiputra university graduates are turning up for interviews as taxi drivers and shop assistants.

What about those who flunk out after SPM?

They become Mat Rempits. Last Saturday I saw another Mat Rempit get killed at the road races in Shah Alam (near Section 7).

In Malaysia, just like in Indonesia, food is getting very expensive. But the wages and salaries of the people, especially the Malays, is not keeping up with the increase in prices.

Instead of developing the competitive ability of the people, the Government has been using the failed NEP to provide subsidies and dish out money on a plate. Everything is subsidised, even cooking oil, flour, rice, sugar, fuel, etc.

The Government has been providing these subsidies so that the people will keep voting for the ruling party.

So it has never been to the Government's advantage to make the Malays independent.

A Malay who is independent of the Government may not vote for the BN. It is therefore better to keep feeding with subsidies. So, for the past 50 years, everything has been subsidised.

But now with 27 million people in the country of which more than half are Malays, subsidies are getting more expensive.

There is also much much more thievery and wastage by the elites in Malaysia. But there is no bottomless well full of money.

Everything has its limits. The money will soon run out.

Without the subsidies for cooking oil, sugar, flour and petrol, how are the people, especially the Malays, going to survive?

Already university graduates cannot find jobs or compete in the private sector. What happens when the oil money runs out?

What happens when (not if, but when) the Government cannot simply spend billions of oil money to sustain its voting base any longer?

That is when we may see people sleeping in the streets, just like in Indonesia.

If that happens this country will go up in flames. We will all be consumed.

In Indonesia, the Government has not mobilised its hundreds of millions of people (over 250 million Indonesians) with the competitive skills to grow enough food for themselves.

Hence food is expensive.

They do not even have simple survival skills like coming to work on time, organising themselves to do simple tasks, maintaining good hygiene and cleanliness and so on.

They are poorly read and not informed about many things that are going on around the world.

Their Government has failed in all these aspects. Hence the average Indonesian remains poor.

The same thing has happened in Malaysia.

Our young people, especially the Malays, do not possess basic survival skills. We are not talking about competitive skills but just basic survival skills.

The Government is not serious about giving them useful competitive skills either. The Mat Rempits are being glorified by the politicians as saviours of the nation (Mat Cemerlang). Correction. they are drug users, gang rapists, snatch thieves and street fighters.

When an efficient Policewoman called Nooriyah Anvar was appointed
Chief of Traffic Police she went after the Mat Rempits with a vengeance. Does anyone remember her?

She confiscated their bikes on the spot. But soon the Mat Rempits called their political muscle and Nooriyah Anvar was kicked out.

To date she holds the record of being the shortest serving Traffic Police Chief in Malaysia.

She has been replaced by Senior Asst Comm (II) Datuk Hamza Taib.

So the Government is not serious about improving the position of the Malays. It serves the Barisan Nasional Government to keep the Malays down and out. Then the Malays can go to the Government for crumbs.

This way the ruling elites get to keep the whole loaf to themselves. Go and visit Indonesia.

This is what is happening over there. It is happening over here too.”

This is a quite realistic scenario which is not hard to envisage, since everything in the Malaysian garden is not as lovely as it may seem to some.

What do you think?

Is it far fetched, or a reasonable assessment of the current situation in Malaysia?

Sanon!

Where did a lot of Malaysian taxpayers' money go?

Watch this video, from You Tube, and you will see where some of the hard earned taxpayers' money went.