31 August 1957 - Malaysia Independence Day

Two days from now when the clock ticks to 12.00 midnight, cheers of merdeka (independence) will echo across the country followed by fireworks shows and concerts that will last until early morning. Like the previous year, thousand of people will line up the road waving the Malaysian flags in selected locations all over the country watching independence day parade, air show and cultural dance which becomes a feature for would be tourists in this time of the year.

Such are the ways the government and the people celebrate their country's independence from the British on 31 st August 1957 every year. It has been 51 years since the proclamation of independence by the late Tungku Abdul Rahman in the Merdeka Stadium, how we fared so far?

Well, for a young country we have fared quite well considering the steep learning curve we have to go through in shaping this beloved country. Of course, with the multiracial composition and probably one of the highest density of political parties per country in the world, it is not an easy journey. Along the way, there were hiccups, flu and fever, there were the insurgency war with the Malaya Communist Party (PKM) guerillas, Confrontation with Indonesia in 1963, racial clash on 13 May 1969, big flood in 1973, various political controversies up to today, and so on shaped up the history of this country. At the end of the day, with enough tolerance from all parties, our country is still intact and matured. We should keep it that way.

In economy, our industries have grown and become one of the major players internationally in electronics, petroleum, agricultural products and other fields. Malaysia has become respected in international political arena with regular contribution of peacekeeping force wherever is needed, and has led various organisations like NAM and OIC. Our voices continued to be heard in the UN on various issues.

However, there are still a lot of work to be done to appreciate the independence that we have. We need to change our mindset to think and do things our way and cleanse our minds from the effects of colonisation. The new generation nowadays lack focus on obtaining knowledge and skills to compete with others at local and international stage. Opportunities given by the government were not used fully and they seem contented with their current levels. The youths spend a lot of their time on entertainments and time wasting activities. Some of those given the scholarships to study at local universities are not doing well as their focus are misplaced on entertainment and political activities. We need to change all this so our human resource is fully developed to support our country's vision of becoming a developed nation by 2020. We cannot forever rely on foreign workers to build this nation as this will bring other problems also like social ills and crime problems.

In political arena, we spend too much time bickering about who are the better political parties, or leaders and less time looking into issues which matter to the people. Those who cannot achieve their political agendas went overseas to complaint to their previous colonial master as though our independence means nothing! They have no qualms in sacrificing this country's interests as long as they achieve their political goals. The fate of this nation should be decided by the people who decided to have a system of parliamentary democracy with a Monarchy Institution. It has worked so far for the last 51 years of independance and it should work also for the future. What is required is for every citizen to give a bit of sacrifice of self-interest to protect and nurture our independence for years to come. Leaders who are no longer able to serve and lost touch with the people inspirations should voluntary make way for the new and younger ones to inject new blood and ideas to formulate new policies that help the people. Do not cling to your posts forever just to protect your interests because it is not healthy for the country.

For those fallen heroes of early independence, i salute all of you for your contributions, and for the young generation please do not waste it.

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

TAX RELIEFS

The PM is going to table the new budget soon in the Parliament in the next couple of days. I take it the budget will not be satisfying to everybody i this trying time of world economic slowdown and uncertainty of local politics.

However, i like any other tax payers in this country would wish for certain things to be revised in our favor. One of the main grouses is the tax relief of RM1000 per children per year. For so many years i could not comprehend how in the world the government come up with this figure which translated into Rm83.33 to take care of a kid per month! Did they use parameters from the 70's era for prices related to kid's food, clothing, diapers and medical treatment or they just plucked it from the sky and hope for the Rakyat not complaint about it? Yesterday's news announced that inflation has risen to 8.5% thanks to the petrol price increase as the main culprit which caused the domino effect on the rest of the items. Back to the cost of taking care of a kid nowadays without a maid involved, i am sure is more than RM250 a month which works out to be RM3000 a year! It is very easy to calculate and does not take a rocket scientist to do it.

Basically, a kid needs at least four cans of 22 ounces(medium size) per month, each costs around RM20 plus minus, and 4 packs of 32 or 2 packs of 60 pieces diapers per month which costs around RM60 to RM80, medical costs for clinic visit twice a month for about RM50 for basic treatment, clothing and miscellaneous cost around RM50 per month? This is applicable for kids up to maybe 4 years old. When they grow up, cost of clothing will increase as kids clothing are very expensive compares to adults. Then the cost for kindergarten, school uniforms, fees, books and so on.

Which brings me back to the RM83.33 per kid per month of tax relief given by the government, how in the world they came up with it? Did it come from a lonely economist who never married and experienced the headache of bringing up a kid, or an accountant firm who are not in touch with reality, or some smart politicians who prefer to have big saving in the government coffer regardless the hardship experienced by the Rakyat? Which is it? Dont they know that more money available for the people would generate the economy, help businesses which in return increase corporate tax collection by the government? I think this time they should consider revising the figure seriously, because if the cost of raising a family is deemed to be too expensive, Malaysia will one day end up like Singapore, because the new generation will be more comfortable with a small family size that they can afford. There will be shortage of local human resource eventually, and Malaysia will end up importing more foreigners to feed its industries. More foreigners means more headache with social ills and crime rate increases.

While at it, the government should also review personal relief of RM8000 per year per person, especially with the inflation rate has increased to 8.5% this year. Those living in big cities suffer the most with over dependency on personal vehicles to commute to work as the public transportation system still not at its best. The petrol price hike is a killer, eventually the rental rates for housing accommodation will go up along with food items. Some have gone up already the day after the announcement. They also have to put up with numerous tolls just to come to work. Some companies give COLA to cope up with this, but if the COLA amount is also taxable what is the use? With the average salary increase of 5% per year in most companies, it is becoming more stressfull for those who work in big cities like KL to make ends meet. So, maybe the government should introduce a zone system whereby those who live in KL will get more tax relief than those who lived in small towns where the distance for commuting to work is closer, less toll to pay, cheaper parking rates and so on.

I think it is time for the goverment to feel the pain the people on the streets feel instead taking care of the big corporations interests only.

THE STATE OF OUR SPORTS

Watching the men's badminton final at Beijing Olympic was disheartening last nite as our shuttler fell short of the gold medal that has been so elusive for so many years. Despite that, we have to congratulate Chong Wei for his effort, maybe next time he will fare better.

Sometimes i wonder, why other countries with less government support, subsidies and facilities fared better and won more medals than Malaysia. Countries from Africa and Carribean of late produced world class athletes. What went wrong? Various programmes and overseas training were carried out but the results did not reflect the amount of tax payers money spent on them.

I think the root of the problems came from mismanagement of our human resources right from the school age up to the professional levels. In school, kids were taught to concentrate more on obtaining more A's by parents as that will lead to better future. Even during their spare time and school holiday kids were sent to more tuition classes so they are at par or better than their classmates. Parents are apprehensive when their kids spend some time in the fields playing soccer or running around with other kids as they consider it as a waste of time. Adding to that, more and more public playing grounds were converted into commercial centers in their drive to make more money. Kids will eventually lose motivation to play and involved in sports and some of them turn to video games of simulated sports. Parents perceived career in sports as not really very promising. It will not guarantee them big house and big cars unless they made it to the big time like Nicol David or Shalin Zulkifli to name a few.

But i think one of the main reasons of Malaysia's failure in international stage is the involvement of politicians in sport associations. These politicians who they themselves never played any of the sport of which they become presidents in the association, have used the association as the ticket to glory which can enhance their political careers. Failure of the association will reflect bad on them and their political careers, so they demand instant success overnight and keep changing the policies regularly to achieve their agenda. They will distant themselves from any failure and blame the coach and players for poor show. A lot of times, the poor coach was not given a free hand at selecting the right player and tactics as there were interfearance by the Management. Some of the sports association do not have enough budget for proper training as the lack sponsors. Sponsors usually link to political connections in Malaysia.

The latest decision in the Malaysia Super League policy of not allowing foreign players to be fielded in order to develop the local players is a joke. This issue had cropped up before just to be reversed as the attendance at the stadiums began to drop. This search for an instant fix will not work as we need to develop a comprehensive programmes involving our young ones from the tender age like is being done in many countries. Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool to name a few, have a youth development programme to create an second and third liner players for preparation to EPL level. These programmes involves massive cost and time as you cannot produce champions overnight. They do not have politicians running around screwing things up and the whole thing is being run professionally like a business entity. Players and sportsman welfare need to be looked after as their concentration is important during any competition. In Malaysia, unpaid players' salaries by the Management is not uncommon. This happens despite the associations getting money from FAM yearly and get part of the gate collections in every game.

But Malaysians no need to be despair, i think there is still a chance for our country to get gold medals at the Olympics, but only if Malaysia hosts the event and add new events for best politicians in sports, most controversial politicians, best political party, best corruption cases ever and best sports event host ever. We seem to excell in these areas despite not much practicing, i dont know why?

TIME OFF REQUIRED

With the current tension prevailing in Malaysian state of politics where almost any Tom, Dick and Harry is making public statements on sensitive issues, i think it will be a good idea for everybody to cool off and lay low and lets the situation diffused before anything untowards occur.

In their over zealous way of trying to do good through open public forums touching on special priveleges of certain ethnic group and religion which they themselve do not fully understand, the Bar Council is pushing the situation to boiling point and can cause an explosion of objections which can be difficult to control later on. Sooner or later, others will start to hold forums of their own questioning other ethnic groups and religions and inviting other demonstrations. While the intention may be good, there are many ways to skin a cat the saying goes. If they all could be more respectful and sensitive towards the interested group or groups feelings, they could do it differently and achieve the same goal. What they need to avoid is the feeling that they are the only ones that know the laws and constitution that only them can champion the rights of the aggrieved parties, and therefore they can ignore the PM's plea not to hold it in the open. The problem with holding the forums in the open is the level of understanding of the attendees of the law and constitution that they are about to discuss as some of them have very little knowledge and can become emotional in airing their problems. The Bar Council members themselves cannot guarantee that they are one hundred percent impartial on these issues. True enough, the Malays and the Moslim groups showed up and demonstrated to show their anger. Despite this, the Bar Council still did not rule out future forums in the open which shows their arrogant stance on the issue. At times through my observation, the issues and statements issued by the Bar Council and the opposition parties are almost identical that makes me wonder.

Before this issued cools off, the Selangor MB made another statement on the Uitm intake policy which brought another wave of objections from the students. I wonder whether anybody thinks first before making sensitive statements and think about the implications of what come from their mouth, or just could not care as long as he can score a few political points on the issue? We must avoid giving the perception to the Malays and Moslims that they are under siege on all fronts as this action will cause a reaction from them which can be very ugly.

We all need to take a brake from this political turmoil that seems to crop all over the place on almost any issues. Is there somebody orchestrating this for their personal interest? At what cost will it be to this country in the long run? Is it not better for all parties to take time off and lets the situation subside and discuss the issues in a professional manner?

BY ELECTION OR BYE-BYE ELECTION?

Malaysian love politics and elections like soap operas i have observed. It is the truth. One fourth of the Star newspaper content is devoted to political issues, internal conflicts of political parties from both sides, police reports related to politics and so on.

The latest hot topic is the by-election in Permatang Pauh,Penang, after the Keadilan Party President DS Dr Wan Azizah resigned just after a few months in the office to make way for her husband to contest. While this process is part of democracy, i personally think that it is misuse at the expense of the people. Just imagine the trouble voters have to go through to go back to their home town to vote. They have to take leave to vote or otherwise they will lose their rights in choosing the candidate that can champion their cause. There will be mad scramble for bus tickets, train and driving home to vote. Nowadays when everything related to petrol price increase start to go up, it will leave a hole in everybody's pocket. Will the politician reimburse the people for their cost of travelling back to vote? Can you imagine if other MPs start to do the same for their constituencies in favor of their mentors or colleagues political careers? If this happens, when can the MPs start to work and focus on the people's problems?

By-elections should only be allowed for cases that involve death, retirement and court's instruction when there are fraud involved. If this misuse is rampant, then there is no meaning to having elections, and we can say bye-bye to this process which is the essence of democracy. Please put the people's interests above personal gain and start rolling our sleeves and solve important issues.