“It’s the economy, stupid” By Norman Fernandez

This is an article penned by long time blog reader Norman Fernandez who writes from Johor Bharu.

“It’s the economy, stupid” was a phrase coined by Bill Clinton’s election strategist, James Carville, during the 1992 American Presidential Election, to emphasise the single most important issue that matters to the voters - The Economy. 

In other words, voters care first, second and third about the economy and that means having money in their pockets and having jobs that will put money in the pockets. Everything else is secondary.

The government would have noticed that during the interim period between the old GST and the new SST, shops were full of people, supermarkets were full and people were buying cars. Why? People had extra money to spend. Things were cheaper and since things were cheaper, people also had  extra money in their pockets even after shopping. So, the people were happy.. the traders were happy... everyone was happy. 

Everyone thought the happy days were here. Alas, nine months after the historic elections, the euphoria is gone, and today such is the situation that the government cannot win a by-election even in a mixed constituency. Even the “opposition minded” Chinese and Indians are fast dumping the government. A dark humour among many now is that many believe it would have been better to have voted the known devils rather than the unknown angels. 

A few months ago, I advertised for two entry level clerks. In less than three days, I had 64 resumes emailed. There were applicants with degrees in Biotechnology, Business Studies, Information Technology, Human Resource Management, Pengajian Islam and Usuluddin competing with those who had Diplomas in Nursing, Health and Allied Science, Library Management, Fine Arts who in turn were competing with the SPM school leavers. Worse, competing against all three were applicants with Masters degrees - all competing for the coveted  RM1,100 monthly salary. Looking at the racial background, almost 95% of the “graduate” applicants were Malays and most likely all had studied with a PTPTN Loan and now burdened with the study loan but without a job.

By the way, that also means that those without an SPM cannot even get a sales-girl’s job. Today, one has to just look around. 

• The shopping centres are dead
• shops and businesses closing or downsizing. 

• Go to the supermarket, people are buying “ near expiry date” products 
• in some supermarkets, they are reducing and removing stocks on display. 
• Even the “tonggeng ayam” are being snapped up. 

The job market is even worse. 

Hardly anyone wants to employ new staff. 

In fact, each time an employee leaves, employers clasp hands and thank God. 

It’s no more a case of whether there will be a Hari Raya bonus but whether there will be job after Hari Raya. 

By the way, there are adverts for “Hostesses” and “Escorts” and believe me, forget the “Bangsa, Agama dan Negara”,  demi “dompet dan perut"  there are so many doing this on the side.

Why does not the government understand?  

Two main expenses bleed the peoples'  pockets.

Housing Loan and Car Loan. 

Frankly, it is no point announcing that “kerajaan akan membina SATU Juta rumah mampu milik dalam 10 tahun”- Really? This government may not even last four years. 

Today, owning an own house is beyond the reach even of the middle class. 

What more the poor. 

For a start, it’s time for the government - for the next decade - to stop developers from building “ rumah mampu lihat sahaja”  but instead build  “rumah mampu milik”. 

If the government simply does not know  how to go about achieving this, just a bus trip down south and across the traffic congested Causeway to Singapore to learn how did Singapore get it right with the public housing would be a good start. Developers should be made to build homes for Malaysians. 

Not building homes which are affordable for foreigners. All one needs to do is simply look at the empty condominiums along the Danga Bay (Pantai Lido). They are all eerily empty - devoid both of the foreigners who bought them but are not here and Malaysians who drive past without even being able to rent them. 

Next, get the Banks to “demi negara” to reduce the interest rate and to cut out all the hidden fee based and “kaut atas angin” fees. Enough with the late interest and interest upon interest on the late interest. Even a small reduction on the interest rate, could see people having a little bit more money in their wallets. Banks could also restructure loans to a slightly longer period.

Added to this housing dilemma, is the financial strain of owning a car. 

• In Malaysia, people own a car because of the creaking or non existent public transportation  system. 
• However, everyone in Malaysia is held ransom and punished for owning a car.  
• Malaysians are paying way over and above for cars which actually cost next to nothing and are very affordable in other countries.
• Reduce, all the possible taxes and make buying and owning a car cheap.
• So that a car loan will not cause the wallet to bleed. 

Just imagine, 

• if people can afford to buy an affordable house with no strangling interest rates 
• if people can buy cars which are not overpriced 
• and  take car loans that are easy on the pocket

Imagine, how much extra money would be in the pocket of the happy voter.

Also, it’s time for the government to do away with Approved Permits or APs.

• Approved Permits are nothing but a government scheme just to enrich a select 
• few and burden the overwhelming majority. 
• Enough with the monopolies and protections. 
• Abolish the AP’s and open up the market and let all compete. 

Why should there be AP’s from onions to cars to even turkeys? 

Without AP’s things will be cheaper.

Alas, instead of focusing on the economy and job creation, the government is focussed on flying cars, changing the colour of school shoes and lamenting daily of the past wrongs. There is only so much the government can blame on Najib and UMNO.

Judging from the way things are NOT CHANGING and it’s just going to stay that way, the conversation this Hari Raya will very likely be "how to get rid of this government". 

(Norman Fernandez)

OSTB :  Thank you Norman.  Sadly the government (both BN and now Pakatan) do not seem to understand the simplicity of the truth in your argument about high cost of car and home ownership.  They just cannot see it. I dont know if it is another DNA issue.

Here is a picture also sent to me by Norman.  It shows a  long line of people (almost all Malays) queuing up to buy Ayam Potong RM5, at KIP Mart Tampoi, Johor Bahru. RM5.00 per chicken. One chicken can feed one family.  

Why not  impose APs for chickens as well? Kan AP itu sangat bagus.

Maybe soon they will be selling Ayam Cincang for RM3.00 satu ekor.

The dunggus are even comparing car prices in Malaysia WITH SINGAPORE !!

Singapore is a tiny island - 26 miles wide and 12 miles 'north to south'. 

Much smaller than say KL and Klang Valley.

The government of Singapore DISCOURAGES car ownership. 

They actively discourage car ownership by imposing high taxes, COEs etc that make car ownership very expensive in Singapore.

Singapore has put in place a super excellent public transportation system. 

Singaporeans DO NOT need private cars to travel around the tiny island. 

They have a super excellent bus and MRT system. 

Perhaps the best in the world.  

There are no buses that fully cover even a small area like Dengkil. 

There is no MRT in Tanjong Malim or Sandakan. 

Or even an efficient bus system.

If things do not change for the betterment of the people the government must be kicked out.

✍ Sumber Pautan : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

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