How should we judge a government?

In Malaysia, if you don't watch television or read newspapers, you are uninformed; but if you do, you are misinformed!

"If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing." - Malcolm X

Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience - Mark Twain

Why we should be against censorship in a court of law: Publicity is the very soul of justice … it keeps the judge himself, while trying, under trial. - Jeremy Bentham

"Our government is like a baby's alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no
responsibility at the other. " - Ronald Reagan

Government fed by the people

Government fed by the people

Career options

Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?

Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?

When there's too much dirt...

When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.

Prevent bullying now!

Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)

Thursday, October 30, 2014

TK Chua's letter to Mkini: Please stop the madness on multi-tiered fuel subsidy

Excerpt:

'I refer to the proposed multi-tiered fuel subsidy scheme based on different income levels to be implemented by mid-next year. Seriously, I have never seen a rationalisation scheme more irrational and foolish than this. Are the Treasury and those entrusted with financial management going bonkers? What are they thinking really?

Presently we have fuel subsidies earmarked for different sectors, groups and industries which are not individual-based. But even with this system, the incidence of arbitrage, corruption, smuggling and administrative cost is getting endemic and colossal.

Just look at the number of personnel involved in administering and enforcing the schemes. Just look at the leakages and the abuse of subsidies. The government has constantly reminded us of the huge allocation for fuel subsidy under the present schemes.'

'We define income levels of less than RM5,000, between RM5000 and RM10,000, and more than RM10,000 as if we are all robots. How do we prove it and how do the authorities confirm it? For sure, not everyone has a salary slip like a government servant. Besides, the salary slips may not prove anything. There are many with lots of wealth but with no monthly income.

On the other hand, there are many with very high income but with no salary slips and no bank account in their names.'

'Passing it on to others?

Then, what about senior government officers and those high income earners from the private sector? Most of them are given cars with petrol thrown in. So in what ways are the rich and high-income earners made to pay more for their fuel? Can we now see that the poor and the middle income have to shoulder the higher fuel cost out of their own pockets while the rich just pass it on to others?'

Rest of the letter:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/278919
Link

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