Malaysian Apathy 24 October 2008

I recently discussed with my girlfriend on the government’s recent directive for the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) to loan to Khazanah and PNB owned Valuecap Sdn. Bhd. to allow the latter to ’shore up’ ‘undervalued companies’. I told her that I did not like the fact that my EPF money is being used in such a way. I said we should demand that the government be transparent in this transaction, as we’re talking about the rakyat’s retirement fund.

My girlfriend asked me, ‘What’s the use of making noise? It won’t make a difference.”

Yes, we do want to know what’s happening with our funds. But the government is not going to disclose to us more than they have (which is not much). It’s not going to start practicing transparency and accountability of all of sudden. In fact, it might never.

So why bother?

Apathy, I would imagine, is seeping into many Malaysians. They just couldn’t be bothered with what is being done by ‘the people up there’. To them, politicians are just a bunch of clowns who do stupid things and make a lot of noise in Parliament.

Oh no, make no mistake, people are not falling in love with the government all over again just because we’re going to have a new prime minister in March. I think it’s going to take a lot of effort by the ruling coalition to win back the hearts and minds of the rakyat. Too many times have they been hurt for them to re-embrace the government with open arms.

No, the feeling these days is apathy. The ‘couldn’t be bothered, couldn’t care less’ mindset.

“I just flip through the papers these days. I have given up on the government. They’re not going to do anything for us, so I stopped bothering,” a friend told me.

Malaysians have notoriously short memories. We go through ‘phases’, where our attention is focus on this one issue or news event for a few days, and we move on. Nothing really gets resolved. Issues pop-up, highlighted, discussed and discarded, to be buried again until the next time.

When the Lingam videotape came out, everyone suddenly wanted to give their two cents worth on judicial independence and reform. Now, even the lawyers don’t talk about it anymore.

When fuel prices went up, everyone started asking about where oil money is going to, and about improving public transportation and about economic management. When the prices were gradually decreased, so did the noise levels and all the discussion about oil money, public transportation and economic management.

After the 12th General Elections, everyone revelled in ‘Malaysia democratic awakening’, the supposed return to ‘people’s power’. The ‘dawn of a new Malaysia’, some say. A few months after bravely exercising our democratic right of voting, we start to forget our other rights in a democratic country. As if democracy only plays a part everytime there’s a general elections.

This attitude, although undesirable, is at the end of the day, understandable. It does seem that whatever we demand and whatever we ask has most of the time fallen upon ears that are deaf. Why persist a futile endeavor?

But we underestimate our own power. I doubt if we had not made so much noise, the government would have decreased the fuel prices. Not because of some sense of duty to meringankan beban rakyat. Simply because the people’s voice on the matter has lent credence to the opposition, which directly threatens their own political positions.

Similarly, if not because of a huge outcry from the public, I doubt that the Shin Chew reporter and Ms. Teresa Kok would be released from ISA so very soon.

If we wish to build a better Malaysia, we must not allow our apathy to take over. We must keep demanding, we must keep pushing, we must keep highlighting what WE as citizens of the country want. Accountability, good governance, independent judiciary, free press, abolishment of draconian laws, unity, good public transportation systems etc., these are not impossible dreams. All they require is political will.

And is it not the essence of democracy that political will is at the end of the day, shaped by the people?

All arrows point north 22 August 2008

By now, everyone should have heard the news; as promised, the government has brought down the price of fuel.

PM announces reduced fuel prices

PUTRAJAYA: Petrol and diesel price will drop by between eight sen and 22 sen a litre from Saturday.

The price of RON97 petrol will be reduced by 15 sen to RM2.55 a litre from RM2.70, while RON92 would be 22 sen less at RM2.40, from RM2.62

The retail price of diesel would drop by eight sen to RM2.50 a litre.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah ahmad Badawi announced the new prices in a statement after Friday’s Cabinet meeting.

He said the prices were determined by taking into account the actual price from Aug 1 to 21 and the 30 sen per litre subsidy borne by the government while the subsidy for diesel, based on the new price, was 50 sen a litre.

“The cabinet decided to bring forward the enforcement date for adjustment of the new petrol price,” he said.

I’m not one to oppose anything and everything that UMNO-BN does, so if they did something for the rakyat, then I would thank them. The reduction of fuel prices, although not by very much, will help the rakyat. So I am grateful for it.

However, I do not think that this will have much effect on the prices of basic goods. I’m no economist, but using my unqualified logic, the reduction is too small to actually bring down the price of basic goods. I don’t think it will ease inflationary fears either.

At the same time, we must also recognize the efforts of the people who fought for the price decrease. The political parties, the NGOs, the yous and mes. I really believe that had we not made such a big ruckus about the petrol price, the government will not bother to even consider lowering it. They made this decision only when they realized what a potent weapon the fuel increase is at the hands the opposition.

Which brings me to by next point: excuse the cynic in me, but I truly suspect the timing of this price reduction. We all remember Pak Lah saying that the new ‘fuel price adjustment’ will be implemented only in September. I told some people that I think they will do it on 25 August, the day before the Permatang Pauh election. I was wrong, of course: they decreased the prices on 23 August. But I am still right in that they will do it before Permatang Pauh.

So forgive me for doubting the sincerity of the government. I can find no reason for them to bring forward the price reduction, other than to garner votes in the by-election.

Pak Lah and UMNO-BN will say that it is a mere coincidence. I beg to differ.

There are too many ‘coincidences’ leading up to what is touted as ‘the mother of all by-elections’. First, the day before nomination day, Mr. Saiful Bukhari Azlan took an oath that he was sodomized ‘tanpa keralaan saya‘ by Mr. Anwar Ibrahim. Subsequently, UMNO-BN leaders (admittedly, candidate Mr. Ariff Shah has not resorted to this) used the sumpah laknat to attack Mr. Anwar, trying to convince voters that Mr. Anwar really did sodomize Mr. Saiful. After all, it was widely reported that UMNO-BN played th video of the oath taking ceremony all over Permatang Pauh.

Then, we have the ‘timely’ arrests of two PKR exco members in Perak on suspicion of graft. To me, if they indeed were guilty, then they should be punished. We cannot pilih bulu in fighting corruption. But the timing and manner of the arrest smells rather fishy and I will not be suprised if after this, the ACA will not take further action on the two. It is not often you hear the ACA arresting people to ‘assist investigations’, and they way the media played on the issue, with images of the ’suspects’ handcuffed and handled by the police, I can’t help but think that this is an effort to tarnsih Pakatan, PKR and Mr. Anwar Ibrahim. And while the ACA claims that it is independent, we all know that they do pilih bulu in their actions. Arrests come swift for Pakatan members yet no Barisan members were caught even though countless reports were made. Don’t believe me? Remember the Auditor General’s report last September? It’s been nearly a year, yet no arrests were made, even though there are clear indications that something is not right.

What about the act of giving national shuttler and Olympic silver medalist Mr. Lee Chong Wei his reward in Penang, in the presence of the Barisan candidate? Or yesterday’s publicity stunt by the prime minister in taking public transportation to ‘feel’ the plight of ordinary citizens? Or the DNA bill that was tabled in Parliament?

For me, there are too many ‘coincidences’ to ignore. All arrows are pointing north torwards Permatang Pauh.

Dismay, anger and the feeling of helplessness… 6 June 2008

Anger.

That was the general feeling amongst Malaysians at the government’s decision to increase the petrol price by 40%.

I met up with some friends at a teh tarik stall in PJ, and we were fuming. We lashed out our pent up anger and frustrations. We tried to find some justification in the government’s decision, but we found none. We thought of new ways to cope with the increase, cutting down on unnecessary expenditure, contemplating NGV as alternative fuel. We suggested ways on how to go on from here, on how to make the government realize our dissatisfaction at the whole issue.

My group of friends that night are all salarymen. We come from various profession and we draw an average salary of around RM2,300 per month and we feel the pinch. We don’t have families to feed and still we feel the increase was excessive. We could only imagine what a blue collar worker earning a salary of less than RM1,000 per month with families to feed might feel.

I do think that Malaysians understand that a price increase was necessary. Crude oil prices have skyrocketed in the past few months. We understand that the government cannot maintain the current subsidy.

What we are angry about is way in which the increase was carried out.

A gradual increase over a period of 6 months to 1 year would allow the rakyat to slowly adapt. Perhaps an immediate increase of RM0.30, followed by another increase of RM0.30 six months later, over a reasonable time period. But to increase it by 40% immediately is like yanking the subsidy from right underneath our feet.

We’ve been told that we need a lifestyle change. Yes, we will try to be better at managing our finances. But allow us time to do so. At the end of the day, fuel is fuel is fuel. We cannot run from consuming it. How big a lifestyle change that we affect, we will still feel the pinch. Why can’t our leaders be conscionable enough to ease us slowly into this reality?

At the same time, our leaders should lead by example. If you tell us to take public transport, show us the way!  Put your Mercedes in your garage and take the bus to your spiffy offices in Putrajaya. If you tell us to better manage our finances, then stop all wastages in your ministries. Shelve the numerous corridors for now, revive it later when we have the funds. Scrap the space program. Don’t send your people for the frequent lawatan sambil belajar overseas. Don’t buy submarines and jets for now.

Practice what you preach, they say.

Why were we given the impression that the fuel hike will be in August? Why was the announcement made in less than 8 hours time? Why are you flip-flopping on the issue of sale to foreign cars? Why as an oil producing country, we are paying a premium for oil? What happened to all the taxes that the government levied on oil and plantation companies? These are pertinent questions that need to be addressed by our leaders.

A drastic increase in fuel prices will result in an increase in the price of other goods. Inflation will surely follow. At the same time, our earnings do not see an increase to match. Realities of life would lead many to desperation, thus we can foresee a sharp increase in crime rate.

And to top it off, there’s not much that we can do about it. We’ve just had an elections and unless Saudara Anwar’s claims of cross-overs become a reality, we have to live with what we have. We can hold protests, but already we have been warned not to exercise our democratic right to hold peaceful assemblies. Our cries are falling upon deaf ears.

The future looks rather grim for our fair country.

A Letter to Perantau-perantau 6 June 2008

A letter via e-mail that I sent to Malaysian students in Cardiff, UK:

Salam and greetings to all,

I’m hope you are all in the best of your health, enjoying the oh-so-brisk British summer. But whilst you’re savoring the first few rays of the summer sun, I beg that you spare a thought for those of us in Malaysia.

I’m sure you’ve heard of it, but the price of fuel here has increased by 40%. We wait with bated breath for the domino effect to kick in; when everything else under the Malaysian sun will see an increase. Most of us expected the subsidy to be reduced in order to cope with spiraling global oil prices, yet it is beyond our wildest expectation that this subsidy of which we depend our livelihood upon would be yanked from right underneath our feet in less than 8 hours time.

Yes my fellow Malaysians, things are not all rosy here in our ibu pertiwi. In fact, things look rather grim over here.

A fresh graduate, with an income of around RM2,000-RM2,500 will find it difficult to survive in our cities. What more breadwinners with earnings less than that? How in the world are we supposed to make do with what we have? We have no minimum wage to fall back on. Many foresee an increase in crime rates as a direct result of this increase in the cost of living.

We have been told to change our lifesyle to adapt. Yet we look in envy and dismay at the very people who told us to change as they themselves do not practice what they preach; still living a lavish lifestyle while we struggle to make ends meet.

But I will still urge you to come home. Even if logic dictates that the British grass is way greener. Come home because you love your country, even though you feel that sometimes, your country don’t really love you all that much.

No, my dear perantau, come home and make this country better. Come home and bring change. More than ever, your tanah tumpahnya darahku needs you.

For now, spare a thought for your fellow Malaysians. All we can do right now is be thankful that we have such caring government.

Some Fuel Questions… 4 June 2008

A few questions pertaining to the government’s announcement on the increase in petrol prices:

1.
Why such a drastic increase? A 40% hike in fuel prices will affect everyone, regardless of which income group they belong to. People were expecting an increase of between 20% to 30%. Such a drastic increase would also result in the increase in the price of other goods. And this, in turn, would result in higher crime rates.

2.
Why such a sudden increase? The government should have implemented a gradual percentage increase within 6 months to 1 year, to allow the public to adopt a lifestyle change to adapt to the new pricing. Is not better gradually decrease the subsidy, rather than yanking it from right underneath our feet?

3.
Why was the announcement made less than 12 hours before its enforcement? The government should have made the announcement in view of its implementation sometime in the near future, not a sudden announcement that will foreseeably cause panic buying amongst the general public. Which in turn caused massive traffic jams throughout the country.

Let’s not be naive: it would be unreasonable to expect the government to bear the burden of increasing global fuel prices. But there is surely a better way of introducing and implementing the inevitable price increase.