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
'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
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