Energy Minister Peter Chin came out to say that the government has no power to force IPPs to reveal their contracts. Don't make me and the public laugh.
Are we talking about the same government? The government that can arrest and lock up opposition politicians at will, one which the Prime Minister is vicariously in control of our natural gas and oil reserves?
One which billions can be disseminated to cronies and their associates?
One which controls the media to a 'T' to ensure that they don't publish anything negative about the BN government, but openly endorses racism, and division?
The same government which advocates People First, Performance Now? If it is indeed the same government, then I must be completely blind.
As for the general public, what is the financial impact of all of these issues?
Let's view our cost increases in a list as highlighted by Charles Santiago:
1. 7.12% increase in electricity tariff.
2. 8.3% increase for manufacturers who will pass it on to the consumer.
3. Food prices in Malaysia have increased at a 200% rate against world food prices.
4. Between September 2010 and April 2011, vegetables have increased between 40 to 60% in price.
5. The price of onions has gone up by 400%.
6. Sugar is up by 10.2%.
7. A household with an income of RM1,500 would find that their costs have gone up by 40% just from their grocery bill.
On the flip side, the average salary in this country has risen by 2.6% over the past 10 years from 2000 to 2010, or a paltry 0.26% a year! This is almost akin to a Japanese savings account, where you get out less than you put in.
Yes, by all means reduce subsidies, but you need to ensure that we can be a competitive economy in order to do so!
What is the point of trying to sugarcoat everything when this is a classic case of mismanagement of the highest order.
To use a business analogy, it is like saying, the directors screw up but the workers have to pay for it and get penalised consistently.
On top of this, the workers are also the shareholders, and at the AGM, the workers are compelled to re-elect them to the board of directors because of all the past successes of our company. Doesn't make much sense.
Of course, just before the AGM, the directors pay out a token bonus, buy them lunch and say that the future would be better under them. Come on people, we weren't born yesterday.
At this point in time, BN has just given PR a lot more ammunition come the next general election.
They hope the electorate has a short memory, but PR shall just come back and recap everything they have screwed up on.
If BN wants to silence PR, it's a tall order to lock up all the politicians during the election under the Internal Security Act.
Obviously, questioning the government's policies and decisions are a threat to national security.
If we are to operate as a true democracy, it is the right and duty of the people and the opposition to remind the government as to what their responsibility is.
Does BN want to lose the next election? I doubt so. However, it's a massive uphill climb for this government.
Can they make Chin a scapegoat and sideline the Sarawak United Peoples' Party?
Perhaps, considering the SUPP were caught out at the latest elections. The opposition has a really easy job. There is no need to dig up dirt when they so willingly present it to you on a silver platter.
AND UMNO IS STILL WONDERING WHY THE RAKYAT HAVE DECIDED NOT TO VOTE FOR THEM COME GE13!
No comments:
Post a Comment