Screenshots

Once again, i feel cheated. How can the Govt expect us to change when they aren't?
Prices of car doesn't seem to be coming down. been surfing around trying to get in figures, the new tax structure...maybe have to wait for tomorrow's news paper. No news about the govt planning to bring in alternative fuel cars. In short ..i read about the NAP, and i dun seem to be jumping around for joy.
Malas nak komen pasal gomen kita lagi.

Finally, the government does something right. What a miracle!

As for the reduction in fuel subsidy - I support the move because subsidies causes waste and inefficiencies, benefits the wrong target... but lets see if the government makes good its promise to use the RM4.4 billion saved effectively instead of frittering it away.

Aiyah after one long article probably cooked up by some young law graduate .it boils down to the same thing.

If AB is serious about it, it should be abolished end of this year . Why wait for car stocks to finish ..what guarantee it will finish...?

We have to start competing more agreesively since China have already open their market...THailand is doing very well with them allowing other manufacturer to manufacture cars there..Brought down the price for car down really low.
The rakyat is happy there.

What bout here? G is interested in financial planning on how to suck money from bolehland , conning the rakyat with nice article and hope that rakyat don't notice the fine printing.

The already rich Favourites asking people to change lifestyle...

and all our future engineers, doctors ...are counteroffered by people in Shinjiapur for a better future and world class education.

Hopefully the next GE will come sooner..

hahaha..malaysians must be idiots...the govt did not reduce the tax..WTO and all the Asean partners forced it..it has to come sooner or later or we will become pariahs of the world..and malaysia will be screwed...looked at the "forced' rice imports from Thailand.

We can only smile if cars prices come down to levels like Thaland,,and road tolls literally non existent.

Come next year..Govt will come out and say.." we have reduced the the tax on cars..SO WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO INCREASE THE TOLLS..

SAME SAME lah...
the true change is to close down the disgraced proton,
or sell to produa- toyota group...
that is truly new auto plan.

What National Automotive Policy ? The licence to steal is still given to a select few for the next 4 years. Make hay while the sun shines. The so-called policy only maintains the status quo for the next 4 years as acknowledged by the government. The reduction in duties will not have any impact since it will apply to models that were "underdeclared" in terms of values in the first place and had their prices increased recently.

What a waste of everybody's time. It is incompetence personified by AAB. Soon there will be a dispute between MITI and the PM's department as to who controls the issuance of APs for the next 4 years.

it goes to show that the real person in power is ..........

There is no reason to scrap APs and replace it with a new type of import permit where the proceeds go to the Ministry of Finance. Then we can even subsidise the fuel prices to help the rakyat. Instead, the benefits to a few are retained for another 4 years. How many more helicopters can 4 years of APs buy ?

My first sentence should read "There is no reason NOT to scrap APs..."

the policy is apparently in favour of Proton,

like one of the reader 'flee' from motortrader mentioned about the fifth clause: Manufacturing License - which could stop Perodua from assembling Toyota Avanza.

What a sad case. Perodua has been working hard and working good, and after all, this is what they get.

But one of the trick is to change the name to Perodua Avanza - just make it similar like Proton-Renault's Savvy....

what a morning, i cant help thinking:

1. Money saved = money earned.

2. Money saved lie = Money Earned lie.

3. Rakyat pays = govt untung.

So, heres the equation:

Let you immagination run wild ah on this:

1. What if govt has not subsidised on anything at al?

2. They increase to earn money from rakyat & reason it as reducing the burden.

3. Govt earns money either way with any reason. I guess its more compasinate to do it this way.

anyways, i have nothing better to do this morning :)

Andrew, can you enlighten me for the new policy is having a good change for us?

anyhow, i didn't really disappointed this time because i don't give a single hope at all in the first place.

Ok, I jumped the gun a bit - it did sound good from yesterday's reports - where both import duties and excise duties are slashed.

As to them sneaking it back in through higher declaration, though I'll be really disappointed if car prices won't go down (people say it won't) - at least the money goes back to the government, who no matter how profligate, is still (slightly) better than directly to crooked businessmen.

How much underdeclaration is there anyway? Is it mostly for CBU, and only for certain really crooked importers? If the CKD parts are not under-declared that much, then this policy is right because it forces them to be honest and can result in a positive shift of actual industrial production and assemblage to Malaysia.

As for phasing out of AP - well the timeframe is ok lah, I don't expect the garmen to ask all current AP-dependents to fry. I just hope they don't put in some other crap that is the same, and continue to monitor the AP allocation strigently.

In my opinion, with concerted effort, the AP system can be abolished within 12 months.

We know that policy change does not require 4 long years.

This should be a political gambit to win votes in the next General Election.

What a farce of a NAP. It is essentially created to protect Proton. Period. It says that APs are merely a tool to measure and to monitor. Who are they kidding? The AP kings are laughing all the way to the bank as they are given the license to plunder the rakyat till 2010.

Something is definitely very wrong with this Govt as Pak Lah continues to screw the very people who has given him that 92% mandate. I know where my vote is definitely NOT going to in the next GE.

For average Joe like me, the reduction in tariff/tax has no benefit to me as I won't be changing car any sooner. But the reduction in car price has made my car value dropped too.. plus increase in petrol price.

Guess the lower income suffer even more...

NAP=FAT hopes! With vague statements like those in the NAP, it is difficult to judge the outcome of future car prices. My general feeling is that prices will not fluctuate much from the current ones. Inflation is soaring and interest rates going up. Do you think we will get cheaper cars? fat hopes for all!

and i strongly feel the government should be looking at better ways to counter our escalating costs of living. NOT lower car prices? these are luxury items damn it!! get your priorities right!!!!!!!

Anyhow we are going to be suffering under this gomen.

abolishment of AP by 2010 and you know election at 2009? WTO will also force car prices down. One stone so many birds. What matter most? Rakyat? Its the political survival that matters most.

Also, if you do take note, from now on AP is limited to Bumi, Bumi controlled company and foreigner.

Second class people now relegated to third.

In fact, car is NOT a necessity but liabilities for ANY country unless the government screwed the transaportation system.

The NAP is hopeless policies because Proton can never stand on its own feet. Tun.M is actually create AFU national car policies by setting up proton. He never think about the consequences of road maintenance by artificially f*ck up the public transportation system.

Malaysia population and income cannot support the existing tranports/automobile policies. If you look at Klang Valley map, our highway ratio is far higher than any 1st world countries(inclduing Japan). Alas, with the income different, Malaysia is spending TOO MUCH money on the road building and maintenance.

Bare in mind that, too many road served no economy purpose except a gigantic maintenance bill.

The government refuse to tell us HOW MUCH is spend for road maintenance. When road maintenance take up significant amount of GDP, we know economic is going to suffer.

Changing of lifestyle? Looking at current trends, we are going nowhere. I'll not be surprice in 2010, ALL road in Klang valley will be TOL because deficit in road taxes vs roads maintenance.

Jalur Gemilang
That's the name of our national flag
Bunga Raya
That's our national flower
Hibiscus
That's another name for Bunga Raya.
But what's our national colour?
Believe me, it's Nipple Pink
Why so?
Because we are all suckers.
At least that's how we've been treated.
Things will change soon?
Nah ... here's a nipple pink sucker ....

I believe the phrasing out of the AP in the year 2010 is just farce.Other forms similar to the AP would be introduced to assist all those bumis who are there to salvage the nation's wealth.

sound like another gimmic, sure they'll abolish AP in year 2010. who knows, they'll reintro another new kind of policy and rename it... PA or something with minor tweaks. like how proton dress their cars by having different names like saga, wira, iswara... blah blah.

sure no AP in 2010, and then PA after 2010. smart.

Are we really that dumb? Or is it coz' we look dumb? Or maybe it's because we act dumb?? Just wondering coz' we've been screwed so many times by ppl we put in power...and looks like it's happening again..when will it end? If ever?

Of course Malaysians are not dumb (most of them anyway). But the question of why sales of new cars continue to increase despite increasing prices begs to be answered. Isn't it a little ironic that demand for cars in Bolehland is inelastic? How many of us here bought a car without test driving it or better yet, seen it in the metal? Only in Malaysia, I tell ya. Malaysia memang boleh!

So no matter how much we rant, rave and shout statements of abuse at the powers that be, let's put our words to action. Stop buying new cars! Action does speak louder than words.

I tell you Samarium,
Malaysians purchasing power is second to none and our appetite for new card is voracious!! We are willing to take 9 year loans paying RM700 or 800 per month to drive the latest cars. This is absolutely absurd in my mind. 9 years for a car loan? Average Malaysian makes what, RM2K per month? Let's make it 3K for arguments sake..that means assuming he/she doesn't spend a single cent on anything (food, clothing etc) it will take them 2 or 2.5 years to pay off a loan to drive a decent mid-range car. Thats crazy!!
Interest rate increase is a big burden for home-owners too. Competition among banks is virtually non-existant leaving consumers at their mercy when it comes to raising rates. Clauses such as lock-in periods mean we can't jump around to get better deals either...It seems like we're being sacrificed at the altar to appease the big business boys in this country...
Banks are generating profits (not revenues) of billions, so is PLUS and now Proton wants more protection so it can join the billion ringgit club also...Where's the consumer rights activists when u need them?

Mithos...there's no hope with our consumer rights group...have a look here..
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/freedomalaysia/

i'm happy to see that NAP2006 is a step in the right direction. it'll take many steps to get to a good place but it is not going to help by being negative and whining every step of the way. grow up people!

moo_t, I buy that our public transportation is grossly deficient, but the problem of having 'too much roads to maintain' that 'serves no economic purpose' is stretching my credubility a bit. I think having good roads are essential and I disagree we have too much of it!

Firstly, the roads make us much more productive. Imagine how it would be if it take ages to get to work or to ship materials around. Secondly, if we use too much money on road maintenance, the problem is not the volume of road, but the inefficiencies and corruption in the maintenance procedures. These are separate problems that demand different solutions, certainly not build less roads!

lsk: You call the NAP "a step in the right direction"? These are supposed to be the brightest brains in the country - the PM's department and MITI - and all they can come up with is this ? Some wishy-washy story after over a year's debate on APs ? Can you give us one solid reason why it would take 4 years to phase out APs?

1. Kempen Tak Nak.

2. Corruption eradiction.

3.Cabinet reshuffle.

4. Accident reduction.

5. Royal Commission to improve police.

6. Nude ear squat commssion.

7. NAP

Semuanya ...bising saje..tapi in the end much ado over nothing.

Please select one

a) AP = AKU PENIPU

b) AP = AKU PENYANGAK

c) AP = AKU PENYAMUN

All this NAP is one big B.S. We, the consumer, are never in their list. But, then who put them there? Not me.

Why is it that we have to phase out AP till 2010? I am totally confused!

Do we have to be very sick and lying on the death bed before we eat medicine? OR do we eat medicine as soon as we are sick?

5 years!!! my goodness... i wish election is tomorrow!

Why is it that we have to phase out AP till 2010? I am totally confused!

Do we have to be very sick and lying on the death bed before we eat medicine? OR do we eat medicine as soon as we are sick?

5 years!!! my goodness... i wish election is tomorrow!

Since we know the barriers are being forced down year after year, then exercise your finance discipline and postpone your new car purchase till later. Proton cannot tahan any longer and at best it starts to roll out non-Japanese cars from its plant. Last gasps since 20 years ago when the rakyat was asked to name the baby. Never grew up and so pampered till became a useless person, which is a lesson to all parents.

Not Another Policy?

i really don't understand why AP will only be phased out in 2010..Just give those AP Kings enough time to clear the stocks in our Malaysian ports..and thats it. simple isn't it?

But the Pm has never beeb seen to make simple decision..all this talk about cheaper cars..blah blah,,is just to divert/deflect the current issue on fuel price increase.

Setup national car company is good idea, But very slow progress/innovative car company is very sad.

Why don't ASEAN country also have proton's share? like Airbus with Europe?

i dont want to buy a car!!! i dont have a car at all. I have my powerful Honda EX5. There is a time full tank about RM3. Now almost RM6 . I think Malaysian should think to migrate to oversea.

Student that still study.. my advice stay there to earn/kumpul a lot of money. when you become an expert, come back to Malaysia. Why? Coz
1.if start from lower level in Malaysia. It is lucky if you become CEO.
2.But if you have oversea experience.HR will put you next to CEO office.Believe me.
3.Engineer like me? Bcoz i solve every technical issue, They will make sure i solve problem ,till i get out from company.
4. If u dont have political skill, you will survey but vertical promosion. Good politic wtill have horizon promosion.

Sori, just enjoy typing my keyboard.Thnaks

belukarjuling,

what? come back to malaysia after one is doing fine overseas? u gotta be kidding.

do you remember the gomen's drive to bring back professional malaysians who are working overseas? out of the few that heeded the call to serve the nation, do you know how many of them have gone back overseas? i remember reading somewhere that ALL but ONE is still remaining in malaysia!

the system is beyond redemption.

Andrew, road served no purposes after youc travel from point A to point B. My point is, nobody is going live on the road or work on the road, unless you work in transportation industries.

Intelligent being will not build something that consume so much resources that only use in once for while. In such case, our 3-4 lanes, multi-layer highway is excessive. No country should build road just to fufills automobile needs.

Hey all,
Why change lifestyle come 2010, when we have the power to change the government by 2009? It's not as if we have a different government before.

BN have been having it since independence till today. Why should we keep voting for them? For how long? For another couple of decades? They've lied, cheated & tricked all those who voted for them in the first place! I can't believe that Malaysians are so blind?

The alternative might be uncertain but what is certain is this: If you continue to vote for BN, expect to be cheated, lied to, tricked, plundered etc.

At least, if we are not satisfy with the alternative ruling party, we can switch back to BN again in the following election. If we can't change the government (read: ruling party), at least, don't let them enjoy a 2/3 majority. Let the BN work harder for our votes. As it is, the government (again, read: ruling party) treats the rakyat as gullible "sotongs", thinking that they can get away with whatever they do with impunity. The BN party (ruling party) is NOT IRREPLACEBLE! They are supposed to work FOR/WITH the rakyat, and NOT the other way round. And now they are telling us to change our lifestyle?!

There's a line that goes something like this:
Tricked once, shame on you
Tricked twice, shame on me.

Malaysians, think about it.

moo_t, roads are essential infrastruture to the development of a nation. Good roads enable goods to be transported from Pt A to Pt B, effectively and efficiently. It is not merely about me and you travelling to and fro to work. Good roads, good accessibility and good infrastructure are on the list of important criteria when a company evaluates as to where to invest. So it's not just to cater for automobile needs. It serves a larger economic picture.

Gotta agree with Freddy. If you are doing well overseas, stay there and enjoy life. The USD, the Euro and the pound which you are earning there takes you a long, long way compared to what the RM can do for you. Unless you are compelled to return to Malaysia for sentimental reasons, stay put.

lsk, where have you been? You say that the NAP is in the right direction? The right direction to what? Our overly protected auto industry has brought a lot of grief to the rakyat. A basic Kancil costs about 20 months salary of a fresh graduate. Financial institutions and car companies have little choice but to extend 90-95% financing over a ridiculous period of 9 years so that sales of cars can move. When Proton was really in its doldrums, all you need is an IC and you can walk out with a new car. WTF? The NAP does nothing more than allow Proton to heap more misery and you call that 'the right direction'. I wonder what could be wrong then, in your books.

Ordinaryperson,

The objective of the next GE is not for a change of Govt. It is to reduce the mandate given to the ruling coalition. The problem with Malaysia is that the opposition is weak. We don't know what they are capable of. I dread to live in a country ruled by PAS. So to me, it's better to be with the devil that you know, as opposed to one which you don't.

Like it or not, BN has not done that badly. It is only that now, under the weak governance of Pak Lah, we see a lot of wishy washy stuff. He can't make any decisions himself but resort to forming committees. And the stigma which is the local auto industry, close to the heart of car-loving Malaysians, continue to disappoint as the rakyat continues to be fed poor quality cars, at relatively high prices. Meanwhile public transport continues to languish.

The year 2010 is stated as phase out of AP system so that gov't can remind voters in 2009 that they will be committed to removing the AP kings the following year. And after the ever-trusting rakyat (who somehow always seem to forget what happened in year leading up to elections) returns our beloved leaders to power in 2009, they will promptly develop a new system to screw their constituents....again...Thus the delicately balanced but predictable cycle continues....

what makes you think that pak lah can ignore the prevailing political reality in malaysia?
you want this and you want that and you want it now. you want democracy & transparency, yet you want pak lah to be strong like mahathir. what do you really want? you have to make up your mind.
pak lah is being challenged on the formation of IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission), from umnoputra no less. it will take lotsa political wills and wisdoms to get IPCMC formed. you think there'll even be talk of IPCMC if mahathir is still PM? you think mahathir will remove AP if he's still PM? you think any PM can survive abolishing AP? you think if pak lah is toppled by umnoputra, we'll get another PM who will even entertain the talk of removing AP, ever? you think if pas come to power, AP will not be required to enrich pasputra? grow up people. let move forward one step at a time, steadily, surely and firmly. stop whining.

Samarium,
I understand what u mean, I'd dread to have PAS being elected as the ruling party too.
However, if everyone votes for BN again because they are worried that PAS will rule, we'd be all back to square one. 90% mandate will go back to BN as a license to continue to screw the rakyat! Just like Mithos say, the predictable cycles continues... Why? It's just because we fear of the unknown. And BN knows exactly how to exploit them, GE after GE!

Ask yourselves, is that what you want? To be continuously screwed/lied to/cheated/plundered etc. till no ends? For how long? Another 30, 40 years? If yes, then, we should all stop whining about price increase or living cost increase and all that.

As someone else said before, we deserve the government we voted for! Or a reality TV show called "You asked for it!"

ordinaryperson,

many many years ago, i had the same fears too that PAS may rule the country. i admit that i was taken in by the propaganda of fears but after doing some simple maths, the amount of seats that PAS contests in a GE, there ain't no way PAS can rule the nation. therefore, what we need is a strong opposition in parliament and the chance was squandered in 2004.

i heard rumous that badawi is not performing in his position as a finance minister and that he only goes to this office maybe once a month and that his IN basket is full of files.

in most of what i hear, it is said that badawi is a SLOGAN MAN. period.

indecisiveness will not augur well for the nation. let's take a look at the corruption drive spearheaded by badawi. he urges people to come forward with STRONG evidence. to the ones practising this evil, they get the message that 'MAKE SURE YOU WASH YOUR MOUTH AFTER YOU EAT'.

lsk, the political reality is that Pak Lah cannot hack it. In my mind, he has failed rather miserably as PM. To uphold democracy and ensure transparency, yes, you need someone who has the will and strenghth to pursue it. Pak Lah has failed in this aspect although there have been moments of brilliance. I suppose his statement, 'Don't question as to how the money in the transport trust fund is to be used' is all about transparency, hor?

The IPCMC is formed. Yes, but so what? Let's wait and see whether it is another toothless tiger like Suhakam. Otherwise, we don't need barking dogs who merely makes a lot of noise. We wanna see improvements. Not formation of committee after committee.

So lsk, are you are saying that Pak Lah has just sounded his death knell by announcing the abolishment of the AP system? In fact if he abolishes it now, I am sure that he would be even more popular than before, at least amongst the rakyat. You make it sound like the AP system is truly benefiting EVERY umnoputra and bumiputra, when in reality it is only benefiting a selected few. Don't you read papers?

Moving slowly? Yep, Proton has certainly fulfilled that certain aspect of your wish list. And it has very steadily increased its prices too whilst serving up models worthy of the ice age. About time that this lumbering piece of crap be given a kick up the arse for exploiting the masses. How did you think Proton survived? It's from the huge profits generated from Malaysians. Definitely not from exports. Look at the margins Proton garners vis-a-vis BMW and you will know that Proton's profits %-wise is truly gross.

Whining? I think you need to differentiate between what is whining and what is opinion. The only person whom I see who needs growing up here is you.

i just wish to point out that more changes (even though most changes are talks only and no positive result is seen yet) since paklah became pm than the whole of the 90's & early 00's. you call paklah indicisive and yet you complain that paklah has reduce fuel subsidy, that IPCMC will not be effective, that AP will only be abolished after 2010. perhaps you will call paklah decisive if he decides to maintain the status quo? if you disagree with him, say so lah, don't say he's indecisive. to be honest, i too am impatient with pak lah's style. we expect our leaders to tok big kok, yell at people, make useless sacarstic comments, weild their kris. pak lah's style sure doesn't make him appear charismatic. so you think he's ineffective, unlike a leader. you want a hero for a pm. like mahathir? you want lim ky? samy? and the countless tok-big-kok kings in umno? you want someone like hitler or mao zt?
history has shown that no single leadership style guarantees good result. perhaps most kids will see right through the bs that most politicians put on show and vote paklah....

Hi all,

Here's something for your reading. If you still think BN worth your votes after reading this article, then, go ahead and follow Najib's call to "change" your lifestyle... if you can.

Life as a Malaysian

The cost of living in each country (especially UK and Europe) based on what you earn in the respective country and whether the standards are higher than in Malaysia.

I tried to point out that many Malaysians always convert and that is why they say the UK is expensive. In fact, the cost of living is much cheaper than in Malaysia.

In actual fact, Malaysians are being conned because for such a rich and resource rich country, the pay in Malaysia is way too low compared to the cost of living and inflation.

One good example is Singapore.
Singaporean's (average) earns around S$3000 to S$4000 and nearly everything is half the price of Malaysia. E.g. Clothes, computer parts, electronics etc.
But the average Malaysian still earns RM2000 plus and goods are double the price of Singapore.

This is the same as the UK. If you earn around 2000 pounds, you can liken this to the person earning RM$2000 in Malaysia. I give you some examples below. Maybe you can understand.

1) Good terrace house
It is more or less the same. If you want a house in KL, it would most probably be in Puchong and not Damansara Heights. So your house would be RM200,000. In UK, you can get a decent new house in Zone 6 (still within the tube) for 200,000 pounds.

If non London, you can get a nice house also for less than 200,000 pounds outside London. The same also applies to buying a house in Seremban, Kajang etc. You can buy a nice house for RM200,000 below.

So buying a house is the same for the local and the Malaysian.

Renting a place is the same too or maybe cheaper than in Malaysia (I am Not sure of this). A 2-bedroom flat in London is about 750 pounds (Zone 2). 500 pounds outside Zone 6 but still able to commute to London. A 2-bedroom house in Nottingham is 450 to 500 pounds. A 3-bedroom house in Belfast is about 300 pounds.

2) A car
A good Wira is RM55,000. Most Malaysians have to take 7-year loans and be in debt all the time. If you are earning RM2000 a month, you take nearly 3 years saving the RM2000 with not eating at all just to buy a Wira.

In UK, the average local earns about 2000 pounds. He saves 3 months, he can buy outright a good Ford Fiesta or a Vauxhall Corsa without being in debt.

If buying a second hand car, even better. A 1990 Mercedes 190E cost 500 pounds. My 1996 Mercedes E220 cost 2000 pounds. My friend just gave me his 1989 Honda Accord (Auto) for free because he said he could only get 30 pounds for it.

I used it for a few months and decided to give it of for free too. That alone speaks for itself.

Even if you are kuli or an office boy, you still can drive a Mercedes or a BM. Yes, kuli's and office boy's get paid quite well.

Average temp/office boy in London can earn about 7 to 10 pounds and hour. Overtime is 1.5 times or double. A brick-layer can earn 20 pounds an hour.The same Indon who lays bricks in Malaysia earns RM$50 for the whole day.

Before I became a doctor, I used to be an office boy and I earned near 300 pounds a week working about 70 hours a week. My makan was 30 pounds a week. My rent was 70 pounds a week for a room but I still drove a BMW back then. I bought the 10-year old BMW 3 Series car for 200 pounds. Amazing how an office boy can drive a safe and luxurious car.

3) Petrol.
For a UK person earning 2000 pounds, 89.7 pence a litre/gallon is cheaper than RM1.92 paid in Malaysia. If you don't convert, it is like paying 90 sen a litre in Malaysia

4) Shopping
20 pounds (which is 1% of 2000 pounds) can buy you 1 week's worth of groceries in Tesco.
RM$100 (which is 10% of RM$2000) can also buy you 1 week's worth of groceries in Tesco, Giant or Carrefour.

5) Utility Bills
(This is what I pay in UK)
1. Virtually non-stop heating the whole day only 20 pounds a month. (Only 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)
2. Electricity, I use my electricity maximum only 20 pounds a month. (Only 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)
3. My water bill also comes to about 20 pounds a month (Only 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)
4. My Internet ? I get 2Mbps for about 25 pounds (Bulldog DSL) (Also slightly above 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)
5. Astro Equivalent (NTL cable or Sky) ? 30 pounds per month (Also slightly above 1% of the 2000 pounds earned)

In Malaysia, this is what I used to pay
1. Tenaga Bill comes to RM$200 to RM300 a month with 3 air-cons. This is more than 10% of the RM$2000 earned)
2. Water (Puas) comes to RM$40 (This is about 2% of the RM$2000 earned)
3. Astro RM$100 (if you take Chinese package) (This is about 5% of the RM$2000 you earn)
4. Internet Streamyx 512K RM 88 per month (This is about 5% of RM2000 you earn)

6) Books
A good book is about 10 to 15 pounds in the UK. This is less than 1% of The 2000 pounds you earn. In Malaysia, you have to spend RM$75 to RM$100 for a decent book in MPH or Kinokuniya in KLCC. This is about 5% of the RM2000 ringgit you earn.

7) Education
I think it is about RM$20,000 per year to do a degree in Sunway Monash and> about RM$12,000 per year to send your kid to UM, UKM, USM etc. I am not sure about this.

But in UK, it is only 3000 pounds a year to send your kid to a great university. That also, the white man still makes a lot of noise because The grants were taken away. Previously, it was virtually free for the English man to send his kid to university but now, since the grant was taken away, he has to spend 3000 pounds per year to send his kid to university and less money to get drunk in the pub.

Well, if you are earning RM$2000 ringgit, sending your kid to UM to study is quite difficult. If you are earning 2000 pounds per month, you can easily send you kid to university in the UK.

Even worse for the poor non bumi's not given a place in local university. Even if they can afford, they won't get a place because of the quota system. Unfortunately, the Chinaman and the Indian who gets 5A's in STPM have to be sacrificed and not given a place to let the Malay fellow with
2E's and 3 Fail's to enter the Medical Faculty or Law Faculty.

So the non-bumi's have to save RM100,000 per year to send their kid to the UK. In the UK, at least the white man still can go into university based on results and merit and only pay 3000 pounds per year.

8) Luxuries
Panasonic Plasma TV in Malaysia about RM20,000. If you are earning RM$2000 a month, memang mahal! You have to save 2 years your monthly salary to buy it. In UK, the same Panasonic ironically, Panasonic plasma is made in Japan and Japan is close to Malaysia, so the plasma should be cheaper in Malaysia) is only 2000 pounds. And this is only 10% of the 2000 pounds earned.

9) Health
NHS is free. Though the service is slow, quality is still there. You still can get a top quality by-pass for free although you may have to wait many months. In Malaysia, IJN charges RM$30,000. SJMC charges RM$50,000. GH is free but as many people know, GH and UH have clown doctors. For example doctors who wear tudung and use a pen to touch the patient because scared dosa.

10) Assessments to local councils
I may pay high council tax but at least my council assures my streets are clean and safe, got no holes (pot holes) on my roads, and they jump and attend to me whenever I call them. When I stayed in Malaysia, I paid my assessment and quite rent but MPSJ (I lived in Subang) told me to "podah" whenever I asked them to come and fill up the pot holes, cut the long lalang, put street lighting etc.
The councils, especially MPPJ and MPSJ, were more interested in eating Nasi lemak and going for 10 teh tariks in a day during office hours and hardly did anything for their residents.

11) Income Tax
My national insurance and income tax also is not wasted. When I was unemployed in 1997, the government via social security paid for my 2-bedroom flat for one whole year and I was given about 100 pounds per week for me and my wife to live on. I am happy to know that one day if I lose
My job, I can still claim social security and get my apartment paid and food to eat again for free. It is a good security to know.

All, the list goes on. Here alone you can see, the sterling they earn goes a long way in the UK. So their quality of life is far better in the UK than a Malaysian in Malaysia. It is just that Malaysians are just too content with what they have. But you compare apple for apple.

The British just love to complain. They have it made but still they love To complain. Nothing is good enough for the British. The government gives the citizens so much but they still seem to want more and more.

Written by,
Dr Zain Azrai
London

lsk, we should look at the decisions made in its context. People are unhappy that fuel subsidies have reduced drastically and yet the public transportation system is still languishing. The Govt says the money saved would go into improving the transportation system. So what happened to all the monies saved from previous petrol price hikes? Yes, you can say that Pak has been extremely decisive in reducing subsidies but seen in this context, do you think that such decisiveness merits kudos or brickbats?

I never did say that the IPCMC is ineffective. I only voiced my doubt as to how effective that it can be based on past records/history of similar establishments.

His indecisiveness is very evident wrt the NAP. Billions of RMs worth of cars were stuck at the port cos no one knows what is going on. Many car manufacturers has delayed investment plans in the country cos the 1st draft of the NAP casts nothing in stone. When the NAP finally emerged, the people is disappointed that the market didn't open up as much. Instead you now need manufacturing license and even approval for expansion of capacities. Think of the quagmire of bureaucracy that investors have to trudge thru. Meanwhile they are losing sales as plants are bursting at the seams. The AP system merely adds to the costs of cars here and who is made to pay for this, while the elite few prospers and wallow in their slush pits? So why abolish it only in 2010? Why do the chosen few who has decided to rely mainly on income from the sales of AP be given 4 more years to plunder from the ordinary Joe on the streets? 4 years is a long, long time. Do you mean these people need another 4 years to wean themselves off this easy source of income? Give them another 10 la like that.

Malaysia doesn't need heroes. Malaysia needs someone who possesses the strong will and decisiveness of TDM and the compassion of Pak Lah. I know. Easier said than done. Ok la. Maybe a bit tough, but is asking for a leader who can improve the quality of life for Malaysians too much? I think TDM has done well in this regard, but over the last 5-6 years things have certainly gone downhill. Just look at the salary of fresh grads these days compared to 10 years ago. It is still the same at best, whereas prices of most essentials and commodities have increased by leaps and bounds. The quality of life is fast deteriorating.

lsk:

When we gave Pak Lah the 92 pct mandate 2 years ago, it was with high expectations that some things have got to change - and change for the better. We gave him the mandate for change, not to maintain the status quo, and not to make excuses that his hands are tied. Now, even more than before, when the whole world is moving towards borderless trade and increased competition for foreign investment, we need decisive and competent leadership. We want changes that can keep the country competitive, so that our children can prosper and live meaningful lives. That means getting rid of (or modify)policies that hamper the country (NEP, university admission meritocracy), policies that allows a select group of people to steal in broad daylight (AP system, crony contracts) and policies that generally value human capital. Instead what do we get after 24 months ? More of the same shit. Worse, his relatives now get into the game of enriching themselves. When questioned about all this in private, all AAB could say was "be patient, give me time" and "work with me, not for me". When questioned in public, his terse answer usually ended with "I have no knowledge".

Running a country is not very different from running a corporation. You have to lead from the front, and you have to show competence so that those below you respect you (not necessarily fear you) and has the same level of human endeavour and competence. With AAB's pronouncements, should we be surprised that ministers and MPs are openly contradicting him or opposing him ? Rafidah is one. Taib Mahmud is another. Plus all the MPs that supported the Police.

In a corporation, if the second echelon challenges the top gun, then either the top gun has to resign, or replace the entire second echelon. The corporation will not survive if the status quo is allowed to remain. Shareholders suffer and in our case, the taxpayers suffer.

Just a few questions for you, lsk, to answer:

1. If Pak Lah says that the AP proceeds will immediately go the Treasury, but in any case will be abolished in 2010, will it not serve the rakyat's purpose ? Do you think that Pak Lah will not have the support of the majority of the MPs? Pak Lah could even become a hero if he says that the money the Treasury receives from the APs (do your maths: 50,000 APs at RM 20,000 each) will go towards reducing the current fuel prices.

2. If Pak Lah tells Parliament that all MPs who object to the establishment of the IPCMC should resign tomorrow, you think ANY of the vocal MPs will resign ?

3. Since PAS by mathematical possibility cannot form a government without entering into a coalition with Keadilan and DAP, how could they (PAS) reintroduce the AP system?

4. What makes you think that there could be such a thing as a "Pasputra" ?

When the cat is weak, the rats all come out to play. It is as simple as that. Excuses cannot be tolerated if they are at the expense of the wellbeing of the Rakyat.

line 8 should read "..generally devalue human capital..."

just in case some here have forgotten. in the westminster model of parliamentary democracy, which we follow, we did chose the pm, not exactly. and the pm can be replaced without yours & my consent.
is it news if someone say that paklah's grassroot support is not outstanding? anyone want to venture a wild guess on which political party lead the pack in terms of money politics in malaysia?

Isk,

Why don't you enlighten us?

Here in Malaysia, most mass media has been turned into BN's tool to brainwash the masses. Play the racial card. Play on the fear of the rakyat. Manipulate the EC, thus the constituency boundary, so that the Opposition always have lower chance of winning large number of seats in the GE. This is called gerrymendling.

They'd do everything to keep the opposition at bay, to the extend of invoking all sorts of draconian law.

And you call this Democracy?

It's pale in comparison to the original Westminster system of parlimentary.

ord, i can't enlighten you, the answer is within you!
yes, we have a screwed-up democracy. who screwed it up? who can unscrew it? you think paklah or any pm can undo what was done in the past 3 decades overnight, even if he wants to? do you believe a pm who acts to jeopardise umno's monopoly on power will remain in office for long? if someone carry out a coup to depose paklah, what are you going to do? will you join people power demonstration to protect him? like most chinese, when that happens i'll just hide somewhere and shut up.
just look at the ipcmc issue now. how many chinese & indian bn polies dares to stand up to support paklah? foot!

The Malaysian government is finally telling the truth, indirectly that is, to all Malaysian consumers.

That they must adhere to the 5% total tax difference, in whatever form as agreed in AFTA, between an Asean import and a local produced car by 2008. Failing to do so will see the 2nd largest trading country in ASEAN being slapped with penalties.

I mean 2nd largest country in intraasean trade.

Isk,

You've missed what I've been trying to say. I'm not interested whether if Pak Lah is replaced by another pseudo-Mahathir as the PM. In fact what I'm saying is the same thing which Mahathir mentioned sometimes ago regarding the >90% mandate given to BN during the last GE. One of the contributing factor to BN's 92% majority mandate was due to Pak Lah's then "Mr. Nice-Guy" protrayed image. I think there would be a lot of people agree with me on this.

My point is this: Because of the constant greater than 2/3 majority win over the Opposition in the GEs, BN has, over the years become complacent and bold.
Complacent because they couldn't care less how the rakyat would suffer due to their own inefficiencies. Bold because they would care more of their own pockets than the welfare of those who've elected them in the first place! Bold because they've experience that with power, comes easy money. Need I say more?

Power corrupts. Absolute power, corrupts absolutly.

All I'm saying is we should not be fearful to vote for the Opposition. As someone has pointed out that it's mathematically impossible for any single Opposition party to become the ruling party. But they are needed there to provide the checks and balance, which Malaysia parliment sorely needs. A strong Opposition in the Parliment would ensure that the ruling party is kept in line.

We might not be able to change the PM or the government overnight. Nor can we undo the damages inflicted by the ruling coalition over the last 40 yrs. However, we can send a strong message to the BN Government that they can't simply do what they like. All we need to do is vote the opposition in the next GE. The Opposition might not form government but, at least, BN would start to take us, the voters, more seriously.