Posted on by Kit

Malaysians getting ripped off

by Mimi Chih

When Tunku Abdul Rahman decided to expel Singapore from the Federation of Malaya leading to the Independence of Singapore on August 9, 1965, the world did not expect this tiny island Republic with a population of 1.8 million then to stand tall as one of the original Four Asian Tigers, along with Hong Kong, South Korea and Taiwan 46 years later. Well, this Lion City has certainly ventured forth roaring all the way with a lion heart.

How does one measure the success of a country? To the people, it is reflected in their overall standard of living. Not every country is lucky enough to have a team of intelligent people whose passionate objectives drive them to make their country a better place to live – for everyone. Singapore is one such country. Today this island republic has one of the highest standard of living in South East Asia.

Which Malaysian could imagine that some 46 years after the split, Singapore’s exchange rate to the ringgit would hit a dizzying rate of RM2.41 (Nov 11, 2011)? August 1972 was the last time that the SGD (Singapore Dollar) was almost on par with the (RM) ringgit at SGD100:RM100.10. For an average wage earner in the Lion City making SGD2500 a month, going for a 10 days holiday to the US or Australia or Europe once a year is a relatively small matter.

What happened to Malaysia? In 1965 when Singapore was expelled, Malaysia had everything that the island republic glaringly lacked – ample land, a plethora of natural resources, an operating government, and 9.3 million people.

Unfortunately, in the 46 years that has come to past, Malaysia has been bogged down by a number of issues which are clearly distracting the government from doing what it is supposed to be doing.

The ruling government (UMNO) in Malaysia is debating whether education in English would be significantly beneficial to the rakyat, the opposition PAS’ vehement stance in wanting to forcibly implement the hudud laws and banning Elton John from performing in Malaysia because of his sexual orientation, and the Obedient Wives Club’s proposition that Muslim women should be obedient and strive to approach sex with their hubbies not just on a physical level but on the higher spiritual realm.

There are also questions posed to DAP’s national chairman Karpal Singh by MCA’s leader Datuk Seri Dr. Chua Soi Lek whether a non-Muslim should first convert to Islam if they wanted to be deputy prime minister should Pakatan become the ruling government. These are just a handful of endless annoying issues which UMNO has had to deal with on a daily basis.

In 2011 Singapore’s population stands at 5.18 million (63% are Singaporean citizens while 37% are permanent residents). Malaysia’s population as at July 2011 is 28.73 million. Without getting into advanced mathematical calculations, one would deduce that economies of scale would be more achievable in the country that has 28.73 million people versus 5.18 million. This is not the case.

The cost of living is relative to the ability to earn. Lets establish the value of currency in terms of the wage rate (Malaysia does not have a Minimum Wage rate yet). In Singapore the average general worker such as a merchandiser in a supermarket /department store or the cashier serving you at Mc Donald’s earns SGD5.50 – 6.00 per hour. In Malaysia similar positions start at RM4 – 6 per hour.

But take a look at how much things cost in Malaysia. A kopi si peng costs SGD0.90 to SGD1.20 in clean kopi shops/food courts in Singapore while it costs RM1.80 to RM2.00 in Malaysia. A Chinese roasted duck costs SGD18-25 each . In Malaysia, at the market rate of RM48 per bird, eating roasted duck is a luxury.

As my niece, a 2 year Sunway College graduate with an Accounting degree and ACCA cert is fond of saying, “A person earning peanuts (SGD peanuts, OK) in Singapore can still afford to buy Peter Pan Honey Roasted Peanut Butter imported from the US. A Malaysian earning peanuts in Malaysia can’t even afford to smell any peanut butter.” She adds, “SGD10 in Singapore goes a lot further than RM10 in Malaysia!”

Needless to say, Malaysia has already lost her to the Lion City – talk about brain drain. More than 13 young Accounting graduates from her circle of friends have eagerly taken the same path.

How is it that the cost of so many basic foods and day to day consumable items end up being so much more expensive in Malaysia? Malaysian politicians need to start talking in a meaningful language to the people. For a start, they can talk in terms of bringing down the cost of foods and consumables in Malaysia while striving for a decent standard. The rakyat will surely want to listen to the party that can talk sense about making their RM10 go further than at its current limpy and lethargic rate. It would be nice for average income earning Malaysians to be able to afford US made Peter Pan Honey Roasted Peanut Butter.

Forget the hudud laws for now. Being obedient wives is interesting…. but it’s not an urgent matter. Lets not fret on this issue. Why must a capable non-muslim candidate convert to Muslim to be the Deputy Prime Minister? Would converting to Muslim make the candidate a better Deputy Prime Minister? Finally, do let Elton John dazzle the Malaysians for just one nite – he is not a terrorist. He is truly an accomplished, world class musician and entertainer.

29 Replies to “Malaysians getting ripped off”

  1. Jibbi replies–“Mlaysians have the cheapest petrol in the region! The cheapest water! The cheapestelectricity! The cheapest sugar! The cheapest rice! The cheapest houses! The cheapest cows! The cheapest condo!The cheapest condoms! And the cheapest most obedient-est wives!

  2. Malaysia has everything that Singapore doesn’t have.That is the abundant natural resources.So it should have been 10 MR to 24 SGD,and not the other way around.But what Singapore has Malaysia doesn’t have.That is honest and smart leaders.Malaysia sure boleh.

  3. //let Elton John dazzle the Malaysians for just one nite – he is not a terrorist.//

    Cannot like dis one lah. You tell me, what will terjadi when the 10 million pious malaysain youth start to emulate Sir Elton’s lifestyle? One Saifool Bookhali is bad enough, die lah if we have 10 million Saifools! The courts will be kept busy all day and night comparing the dna extracted from the A-holes of 10 million dudes who claim that they have been sodded!

  7. Corruptions exists in every country….but since Mahathir took over…yes Malaysians have been ripped of by him and on going under his UMNO b party.
    He should call his party…UMRO….”United Malays Racist Organization”….or…”United Malays Rip Off” party,…more appropriate,…mean what he says… says what he mean.

  8. Do you know what is “high income economy” first tossed about by Mahathir and subsequently followed by all the nincompoop worshipers? Yes, price and cost go up, that is the only thing we achieved so far out of our high income economic model. The nincompoops in the government have no idea how to attain real high income, so what they did was to inflate nominal income which leads to high costs and high prices. High income can only be attained out of prudent and consistent macro and micro economic policies over time. High income cannot be attained by talking and wishing that the present group of nincompoops are doing. If it is that simple, why are there still so many poor countries on earth? Every country, including Zimbabwe, would have attained high income.

  10. Instead of taking foreign friends to KLCC, I take them (and my children) to Pudu wet market and surrounding areas, telling the same dirty conditions as in 1960s. Time has stood still in this area. As for corruption, this exists in every country. In Malaysia, the government is protecting its own corrupt ppl. They have no fear of god, moral or jail.

  13. The explanation is simple enough; by ‘creating enough internal issues” for all Malaysians to think above and study for solution, BN will have all the time to arrange for expensive projects to be inplimented withiout much ado. The time will come when people will ask for more income, this is easily done by printing more money! Just kike the US

  17. To ChiNa…

    Pls don’t convert the exchange rate – the point is, for a person earning SGD2500, buying one roasted duck 2 or 3 times a month for the family is no big deal. In Msia, how many people do you know who earn RM2500 would buy home a roasted duck without a blink? Of cos, this is referring to families who love roasted duck?

    To see the value of the currency, we talk in terms of how much RM10 can buy in our country and how much SGD10 can buy in Singapore.

    You can get 125g punnet of blueberries for SGD2.75. Even a Mc Donald’s cashier can buy a few packets home for the family.

  21. tak tahan….if you translate his name ..this dish washer love to suck something.
    What is a put..you tell me.
    I am sure you know what “kam” means.
    He is desperate to get attention.
    Lets ignore him.

  23. 50 years ago a train journey by KTM to Singapore from KL took about 8 hours.Today the same journey still takes 8 hours to complete and the same slow KTM train travels about 50km on average an hour.Why are we so poor that we cannot even upgrade our train service after 50 years ? Obviously the rich resources of the country have been misused and mismanaged.The pitiful and sad consequence is the interest of the people is grossly overlooked.

  25. Malaysians have been ripped off for decades…becoming used to it…no complaints..live on as well as one can.
    Internet gave people to read ..talk…and understand without depending only on newspapers or politicians.
    Thanks to the late Steve Jobs…and Bill Gates.
    After 12th GE..Malaysians are not like before.
    Especially the young and educated….all are proud Malaysians and all hate race and religion politics.
    “What do the Chinese want?” comment made by Mahathir will confirm his UMNO b party love to divide and rule.
    No one from UMNO b dares to correct the old man…..for he made all millionaires.
    Millions they had…millions spent and these chosen ones have their judgment days coming…

  26. Najib trying to be too smart…building up terrorists against patriots….the good against evil.
    Always projecting his government is all good…and patriots.
    He dare not build up…the Freedom Fighters against Corruptions.
    This man with low IQ always expose what he is…and now it is….Old against New…and who does not want to have new things given free must have their heads examined.
    Mahathir can try…can act..and it becomes him now…acting to win hearts and minds.
    Najib thinks he has fooled all Malaysians….with his delay on 13th GE..making all predictions not true..smiling…like an idiot.
    Karpal rubbed it in…and say it must be at Jan. next year.

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