Malaysian Insider
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
May 29, 2010
KOTA BARU, May 29 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders used dire forecasts of a gloomy future if there are no subsidy cuts to warn that voting for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election would lead the country to bankruptcy.
A government minister this week had predicted Malaysia could be bankrupt by 2019 if it does not begin to cut subsidies for petrol, electricity, food and other staples, which cost RM74 billion last year. But the Najib administration is waiting for public feedback before deciding on actual cuts.
DAP leader Lim Kit Siang said it was not subsidies but BN’s corruption and abuse of power that has led the country to current financial crisis.
“I cannot imagine if DAP, PKR or PAS had made the announcement that country will be bankrupt by 2019. If we did, Umno would have labelled us as anti-nationalist and traitors. We probably would have been locked up in ISA and given free food.
“Remember Vision 2020? We were supposed to become a developed nation by 2020 but unfortunately one year before 2020, we are already bankrupt,” he told a crowd last night in Tanah Merah, a two-hour drive from the Kelantan state capital.
Lim was one of many PR leaders in the state speaking at ceramahs ahead of the PKR convention this weekend.
Thousands of people had slowly filled the football field in Tanah Merah to hear the PR leaders, with supporters of all ages coming with families and straw mats sitting in between the two goal posts across the field.
Surrounding the field were stalls bustling with people buying goods, from traditional medicine to perfume. There were also children zigzagging through the crowd selling peanuts and refreshments.
The bustling night bazaar proved to be an ironic backdrop to arguments that the country’s economy is broken and needs reforms.
Lim declared that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s New Economic Model (NEM) is an admission that the country has been in an economic stagnation for the past 10 years.
“Yes, we do believe that we must gradually reduce the country’s subsidies but how can we be certain that the proposed formula will solve the problem because these are only the symptoms. The core problem is the years of corruption practised by the Barsian Nasional government.
“Therefore, the first step is not to abolish subsidies but abolish all forms of corruption!” he said.
The government also announced that slashing subsidies for petrol, diesel, gas, electricity, sugar and flour, among other staples, would save the government RM103 billion over the next five years.
Lim also dared Najib to a “dollar to dollar” challenge.
“I challenge the prime minister and BN government that the country can save RM103 billion if the government abolishes all forms of corruption and misuse of powers. This is because a study has shown that the country has been losing RM10 billion to RM28 billion every year through corruption. So does Najib have the political will?” asked Lim.
PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Umno’s misuse of state funds has forced the government to legalise gambling.
“Back then, they said that they cannot legalise gambling because it was against but today they are legalising because Umno has no money. Their excuse is that they need to legalise betting to help curb illegal gambling. Something must be wrong with their heads.
“The world today is upside down, we have a Muslim government that wants to legalise betting but we have Chinese who are against it. They don’t understand that the poor people will suffer. This is why we are against Barisan Nasional. They have no principles,” he said.
Anwar also ridiculed Najib, saying that his political foe is misleading the public.
“Now they want to take back our subsidies because the country is heading towards bankruptcy. The prime minister had earlier announced that the economy was making a strong recovery but now our country is near bankrupt?
“They should fight against corruption but not take away the subsidies. They only know how to take. They take away land and seize oil away from Kelantan. They are just thieves,” he said.
He said the government must remove commissions and not subsidies.
“Every year the country loses RM20 billion from what? From commissions made from building houses, stadiums and buying submarines. Whose money is this? That is our money! We should eliminate commissions and not subsidies because subsidies affect the poor and not the rich,” he said.
PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat condemned the government for sanctioning betting because it was against Islam.
“They say that they want to legalise betting so they can monitor gambling. How you can expect a man to supervise another man? It is like asking a cow to supervise another cow. Who can control man? Only Allah,” said the Kelantan mentri besar.
First and foremost is to abolish NEP and AP.
Then talk about saving the nation from going bankrupt.
I remember that some Chief Minister who was caught with hard cash in his suitcase Down Under boasted about his state becoming “developed” by 2015, a few years ahead of Mamakthir’s Wawasan 2020. Does it look likely to happen now ? Can the state that boasts an Istana in Klang built by an UMNO warlord on land grabbed from the poor become first world ? Can the state that paid hundreds of thousands of ringgit for study tours to Disneyland for another warlord become first world ?
They are cutting subsidies because they realise that we don’t have any money left in the kitty. The only way for the game of musical chairs to continue is to divert money meant for subsidies to their “usual” pet projects where they can get commissions and contracts. If they don’t cut subsidies they can’t buy more submarines, more attack helicopters, more armoured personnel carriers. If they don’t cut subsidies, where is the money for bailouts coming from ?
When Malaysia’s petroleum reserve runs out in the near future, it will further hurt the country’s debt-ridden fragile economy.
Over the years the government has failed to make use of revenues from petroleum to invest in other economic ventures. When the commodity is depleted, the national economy will be thrown into chaos since revenues from petroleum account for 46% of government income.
The depletion of our petroleum reserve is expected to “expedite” the country’s bankruptcy process.
when we hear the governement will go bankrupt, IT IS A THREAT TO OUR SURVIVAL !!!! it means we have a government who has been all along for 50 years++ being VERY VERY MIS-MANAGING malaysia which has been so blessed with resources and labour !!!
just look at singapore, hong kong and taiwan … they don’t have much resources at all but THEY PROGRESS DAILY !!!!
the signal is clear …. the government has send out its death warrant !!! pk …. please convince the die-hard bn morn supporters not to die with them !!!!
*The captain says that our economy is recovering faster / better than forcasted.
*The lab-assisstant says that we will be another Greece if subsidies on essential items continue.
*PR says cutting subsidies will not cure the problem our beloved country is facing if the rampant corruption practised by BN is not tackled / stopped.
*The layman says……
(thinking aloud) just c4 those crooks if we can’t find enough evidence to bring them to court. Later on, just say that they ‘attack’ the patrolmen when the latter want to ‘check’ them. Our men-in-blue are good at that, remember.
*VOTERS should say : KICK BN OUT !!!
The rakyat will bankrupt faster than the government!
Greece has a per capita income of US$31,900 whereas that for Malaysia is only US$7,221. If the subsidy cuts are ever implemented, the government must take into consideration of the difference in per capita income between the two countries and must not emulate Greece 100% in subsidy cuts.
Malaysia – a failed nation after 53 years! Blatant corruption, mismanagement, unnecessary over-spending and lack of accountability by this corrupt BN regime to be blamed.
Look at the civil service population, even GLCs – it’s bursting at the seams yet downright inefficient, low productivity and lack performance esp those dept away from direct public contact! It’s like a jumbo charitable organisation out there to help create sponges in little napoleans who’d sit around chatting drinking coffee in cafeteria or even having naps and end of the month help them put food on their table, ..for doing nothing!
Independence in 1957
Government almost toppled in 2008
Country bankrupt in 2019
Developed nation in 2020
Ever heard of a bankrupt “developed” country?
Somalia is an example of a bankrupt underdeveloped country.
hahahahahahahaha….Our country going bankrupt …one year before Vision 2020.
They know that so call Vision 2020 cannot be achieved..so make the excuses now.
Cut this ..cut that…to save our country from going bankrupt ..and not one word on corruptions that will actually bankrupt the country?
Yes…when country is in financial trouble..Malaysian must contribute and sacrifices to help.
But what are we helping actually?
This is not the first time we are taxed to the limit and our Ringgit nose dived to the bottom.
When money was accumulated…what happened with the money?
Malaysians earning powers are far below the many we were far ahead few years ago.
To cover up corruptions…UMNO B rouges and thieves made the subsidies…..keeping Malaysians living condition bearable and thus happy to have a so call caring and sharing government.
That did not work in 12th GE…now trying to tell truths…with the major real truth…CORRUPTIONS…not told.
Just went to Hulu Selangor and gave out more than RM100 million and Sibu…. around RM 30 million and God only knows how many millions per month waste on unproductive work…Malaysia gong bankrupt?
Yes we are…and Najib could not care less.
He needs to show how strong Malaysia is.. under UMNO B government….at least after 13th GE.
That is..if it ever materialized….know Malaysians are not easily fooled now.
Sell or auction off the Petronas Twin towers and close down Proton and all those failed GLCs, and force all the lazy majorities to do some work, and learn to be more productive like the Chinese and Indians and pay equal taxes like the Chinese and Indians, like this sure guarantee no problem, and can even overtake Singapore before 2020.
Subsidies removed so as to get the money to pay for this nonsense?
1.2 million FREE laptops x RM3,000 each = at least RM3.6 billion
http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/6com/Article/
///Subsidies removed so as to get the money to pay for this nonsense?
1.2 million FREE laptops x RM3,000 each = at least RM3.6 billion/// – #11 by k1980
Those who take part in the country’s financial planning have no brain. Even rich developed countries would not give free laptops to their students as the financial burden is enormous. It is ok to subsidize students purchase of a laptop but wrong to give everyone of them a free one.
All our problems were the result of Tun Mahathir’s emotional and selfish interests.
In the name of Malay, Bumiputra, Umno and whatever dilema he has, he has made the nation poorer, especially to the Malay race. Majority of them are waiting for durians to jatuh.
Get rid of bumiputra policy, you can avoid the going bankruptcy.
This policy over 50 years leaking smart citizen out to other countries, causing inefficient and quarrel among Malaysians.
Get rid of it, you can avoid going bankruptcy.
By 2019 the common rakyat all become bankrupt and year later in 2020 UMNO and gang and M family will live as rakyat of an advanced country with all the wealth rob from Malaysians
Tourism slogans:
2010 — malaysia truly asia
2019 — malaysia truly bangkrupt
Funny thing,it does not make sense,how come a country becomes bankrupt one year ahead of its becoming a developed state. This strikes a similar weird incident as claimed by MACC that TBH committed sucide just ahead about a month of his planned wedding. This’s indeed Malaysia’s greatest stage show .
make them a fugitive when PR takes over. And they have to pay for half century of rape, murder and plundering. Bloody coward and boaster. I am sure they will hahaha all the way to Swiss banks when PR takes over. Coward regime.
Limkamput for Finance Minister !
I second!
Well Limkamput, have you signed up with DAP yet? Jangan cakap tak serupa bikin.
After the removal of subsidies, GST is to be imposed
1bankrapmalaysia
People’s money First
Squeeze ’em dry Now!
Tony Pua may get anxious, :) ;) {smile}
In Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea or Taiwan, when government allocate, say RM10 millions to start some project which provide 50 jobs, the organisation will snow balled to become a, say RM20 millions company in a few years and provide additional job opportunity, say another 40 jobs! In our Malaysia Bolih Land, the RM10 million company will not only go bust in a year or two, but could be deeply in another RM10 millions debt! The worst thing is after some time, they will join the crowd to blame the “Pendatang” for having robbed them of all their opportunity! What a shame!
Malaysia bankrupt?Oh jolly good.The poor will suffer.Only BN who govern for the past 53 years will be financially free.BN screw their country dry with thousands ringgit screwdriver and 500 million commission for the purchase of submarines.
“Vote BN for bankruptcy”
A marvellous slogan in d next GE n buy election
Why cant we have two system to find out which policy is better?
One party controled states no bumiputra policy.
The other party stick to their bumiputra policy if they still insist.
In few years times, we can find out which system is the better for Malaysians.
The specific position have already expired after over 50 years. The policy is a temporary state not a permanent states.
Without hardwork of those non-Malay, maybe here popular living condition is fishing village.
Ho Ho Ho
This B-eNd bumNO is NO NO n must be voted out or all the RAKYAT will need to pay for their over spending n Mis-Management!!!
Well, if someone is to put MONKEY vs B-eNd human ‘Frogs’ then methink majority will voted for MONKEYS bcoz MONKEYS can cut down unnecessary spending n eat Bananas n no over spending!!! Ding ding dong gone B-eNd bumNO to their Froggy bankrupt land !!!
Ho Ho Ho
QUOTE: “They say that they want to legalise betting so they can monitor gambling.”
Sounds logical until you ask, “How about legalizing prostitution, drug trafficking, and murder too?
hahahahahahahaha…. Lim Suck Ass for Finance Minister.
I second the seconder…making ekompute suggestion…stronger.
Can anyone go to say it out to those stupid selfish Malaysian like MPM, PERKASA that this land the rightful owner is ORANG ASLI who stay hundreds earlier than their ancestors.
Can anyone go to say it out to those stupid selfish Malaysian like MPM, PERKASA that this land the rightful owner is ORANG ASLI who stay hundred years earlier than their ancestors.
LKS,
Some views from Sabah
http://suarasabah.wordpress.com/2010/05/29/stop-flogging-the-malaysian-subsidy-mentality-plug-the-government-leakages-instead/
regards
HEADING TOWARDS 1BANKRUPTCY
Why don’t we franchised ‘Putrajaya’ since they can’t managed the government coffers. It’s just total absurd coming from such donkeys who thinks that they can make us their scapegoats. Subsidies are part of our national deficits and the bulk of the deficits are our corrupted government. Maybe we should tell them to cut matter short and let others managed ‘Putrajaya’ if they think you don’t have the expertise. Send in BN’s resignation and let PR managed……
….and appoint a person with miniature testicle as education minister. Probably can teach about selling and warding off machetes.
… and appoint the saint with rotten balls as monster-God, to share his 30 years of saint-hood as a Buddhist follower.
Just because they cannot curb betting, they want to legalize football betting for the World Cup. Using a similar analogy, they have not been able to curb drug abuse. So are they going to legalize drugs and issue licences to drug pushers??????
And just who is right, TDM’s Wawasan 2020 or Najib’s Bankrup 2019?
There isn’t a easy way out in such situation and cutting subsidies for the targeted group isn’t the best solution. We can consolidate all the under performing GLCs and irrelevant agencies or offices and shut or wind up such GLCs. The rakyat can’t be the only party, to swallow the bitter pill and all politicians must also swallow it too, by slash in monthly allowances by 20-30% for 5 years. They are our representative and have not done anything positively in resolving our major corruption in the country.
cut down on BAKTI, National Youth Day, jamuans, Hari Kecemerlangan xxxx, Hari Terbuka and all those unnecessary speeching ceremonies …
cut down on number of ministries…
cut down on ministers’ “tourism” expenses (overseas trip must be from their own pocket)…
stop building more white elephants…
cut down on freebies and crores of RM spent only during GE or BE or whatever E…
stop creating more useless gov depts and posts…
cut down the salaries of all ministers…
abolish AP…
stop building more MARA and Matriculation Colleges…focus and improve on the current ones which include the existing gov universities as well,,,
pull out of F1 (Petronas)…
stop giving out contracts to errant contractors (nepotism or cronyism?)…small example, the traffic light in my area is out of service on a weekly basis…
stop sending so-called qualified A-ful students to overseas…instead, “subsidise” them to study locally to improve the local U standard…
cut down primary education from 6 to 4 years…6 years are too long and “subsidiy-consuming”…same goes to secondary education from 5 to 4 years…then, we can graduate earlier (like most of other countries) and work and contribute to the country earlier…
burdening us for your own corruption sins will lead us to “Vision 2019″…
how i wish that every malaysians can finally wake up and realise that “Vision 2019” is more realistic than Vision 2020 if they keep voting for the corrupted folks..
2019 …. Malaysia bankrupt
2020 …. Johor sold to Singapore
2021 …. Penang sold to DAP
2022 …. Selangor sold to Vincent Tan
2023 …. Langkawi sold to TDM
2024 …. The rest to be auctioned from time to time, except Sabah and Sarawak, who will form a new nation and become the new economic giant of Asia.