Budgetary boondoggle
And for people to jump for joy at the fact that four expressways will not see a toll hike is just disgusting, particularly when the news that the toll concessionaire is about to be bought over by the EPF and Khazanah Nasional Berhad. If the tolls are not allowed to go up, will we see EPF dividends go up after the purchase?
It is, once again, the spoon-feeding of a population that will not be contributing to national development in the form of a minimum 12 per cent investment from their monthly pay checks, while only those who do invest will hopefully reap better rewards.
But all that aside, I couldn’t help but notice that the Budget lacked vision.
Only RM93 million was invested in renewable energy in Sarawak, when other nations are making green technology and innovation their main focus to combat global warming.
The Iskandar Technology Corridor saw an allocation of over RM300 million while the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER), which focuses on food security, saw only about a third of that. This, of course, is our nation where population control and birth control are considered taboo while we import more and more food from overseas.
And then there was the tower. A 100-storey phallic-shaped building in a nation where we can’t even get tenants in malls and shophouses. Not to mention, of course, that we already have the upside down ice cream cone shaped phallus known as the KL Tower, and the double dildo with matching clown hats that is the Petronas Twin Towers.
But then again, we only own half of the twin dildos.
The budget presented for the upcoming year is as hazy as when Sumatra burned their forests and agricultural land for replanting.
If anything, the one thing that the Budget assured us of was the fact that there would be an election coming up real soon. And the money spent would just be a temporary setback in order to keep people happy enough to maintain this government as the majority. Of course, what would I know about budgeting? All I do is sit at home and moan about how woeful the state of the nation is, right?
Wrong. While I do sit at home and moan about our nation, I also know that our nation can do better because I moan while comparing our nation to other nations or how we once were.
And furthermore, I can do simple arithmetic like most other Malaysians.
The country’s growth in 2011 is expected to be six per cent, while our national debt will be 5.4 per cent of our GDP. That basically means that in 2011, after deducting our debts, we would be left with a growth rate of a mere 0.6 per cent.
Makes you feel all happy inside, doesn’t it?
Our government and our people need to know some facts.
It is a clear fact that green technology is the way forward.
On March 10, 2010, it was announced that a company that produces solar panels, Sun Bear, would be investing RM5.3 billion in building a solar power panel production industry in Sabah, with their first production scheduled in the first quarter of 2012.
Will someone then please enlighten me on why we are building a 300MW combined cycle gas power plant in Kimanis, Sabah?
Why are we exempting hybrid cars from import duty and excise duty, but not even bothering to fund research and innovation on a federal level to develop these cars in Malaysia for better and hopefully cheaper distribution?
Why is there a mention of an MRT system only in Kuala Lumpur and no other states within the federation that is Malaysia?
And I’m curious about the figures put aside for rural roads in Sabah and Sarawak. Why is Sarawak, a state that is the largest in the nation, given only RM686 million in comparison to Sabah, which was allocated RM2.1 billion?
And in all honesty, with a target in 10th Malaysia Plan to have 50 per cent of the nation covered via broadband, is RM50 million enough to train graduates in ICT?
I believe that this government’s recent Budget was a scatterbrained idea that was put together to give the rakyat what they want, simply so they feel good enough to vote Barisan Nasional for the upcoming by-elections, the state elections of Sabah and Sarawak, as well as the general election whenever they wish to call it.
| Hafidz Baharom is a social observer who has rankled more than a few feathers. He has written for a number of publications, and is always looking to stir up discussions on things which need to be said. |
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NoDreamGetReal's avatar
NoDreamGetReal · 2 hours ago
When the budget was announced, it hurt me so much I had tears rolling down my face.Because it clearly shows that this country is officially finished if that's what they will do, the average pay rate of ordinary citizens won't be raised while cost of living will continue to, the economy will not be upgraded to be more technology-based like that in South Korea & Taiwan (our one-time counterparts but we can't call that now), FDI will continue to drop, high-skill human capital will continue to move to better nationS. What should we ordinary citizens do now :(
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sharmila's avatar
sharmila · 1 hour ago
Good morning Hafidz, I look forward reading your articles. And I agree with you. Couple of days ago, I read about a family living under a bridge! and there are a many senior citizens, kids etcs and the list go on living on the street. And here we are busy with 100-storey tower!
It is estimated 1.6million and privately financed and according to our dear PM, is not a "waste of fund." "We want a building that will become a symbol of a modern, developed country."
Can someone please explain to me, what the hell does that mean?
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Revival4Nation 1p · 1 hour ago
Actually, there is no need to have any budget for the country since the Government will not stick to the budget it presented anyway. Misappropriation of funds will continue to happen despite whatever the Auditor General's discoveries are. There is no longer any rule of law in this country and the Government no longer runs the administration. Money dictates everything now. Greed dictates everything now.
Leaders of the Nation, you think you were in control. You think you could determine everything, and could rob the country like there is no tomorrow in broad daylight. Let me assure you that the mandate which you have had for this Nation is given by God (irrespective of what religion you are) and this mandate is given to you in accordance with God's plan for this Nation. This mandate could also be taken from you in due course in accordance with God's plan too. I urge you to fear the Lord your God. Repent now when you still have such chance. The wrath of God will sweep across this Nation, may be in the form of natural disasters, civil unrest, economic depression etc, if we continue with whatever we are doing now in this Nation.
The people of this Nation, we are equally guilty for having the leaders which we have now. Our leaders are actually our representatives and in fact they represent us in every manner, be it thinking, behaviour and action. If we are criticising that our leaders are corrupted for example, we should examine ourselves if we too are corrupted. It takes two to tango. Wasn't it that we elected such leaders because we too want to "benefit" something out of it? If our heart and thinking are already not straight, how could we be electing someone who are righteous? Hence, we are equally guilty and we should too repent.
If the opposition parties were to govern this Nation, please do also ask yourselves how many of them do actually have their heart set on protecting the well-being of this Nation? You should judge yourselves before you judge others. It is always easy to criticise when you are not the one having the mandate to do the job. Could you guarantee that you would put your self-interest aside if you were given the mandate to govern?
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