An alternative Economic Transformation Plan
What is the point of having a gigantic mall from KLCC to Bukit Bintang when only 15% of the population have sufficient qualification and opportunities to earn enough to pay income tax?
By Lee Wee Tak
I can’t help but being cynical about the grand splendour that is the ETP rolled out with much glitz, glamour, promises and vagueness. The loopholes in the ETP has been well commented elsewhere.
All I can add on it is a sense of déjà vu; more empty promises ala 1Malaysia and more opportunities for the few and privilege to get onto the gravy train. It does not address the needs of the majority. Greater KL might sound like a great idea but I doubt people in Gua Musang, Batu Pahat, Bahau might not get too excited
A simple case in point, what is the point of having a gigantic mall from KLCC to Bukit Bintang when only 15% of the population have sufficient qualification and opportunities to earn enough to pay income tax?
My piece here is not about the professionals and upper middle income group. Sure, the businessmen and professionals have other pressing needs. They are more concern about business and investment climate and chances to actualize their potential as a professional. Improving the business climate, safety issues, education and employment opportunities would adress a lot of their concern.
I am writing and thinking about the 85% . By improving their standard of living and purchasing power, the multipler effect of that can only benefit local businesses and employment seeking professionals hence a win-win situation.
An elected government has the moral obligation to ensure its citizens live in safe environment and with dignity.
For me, to achieve high income population; let’s think out of the box. A certain ex-PM recently said that high income means high cost of living. (Incidentally that ex-PM did create a high income albeit exclusive society) Well, high income can also mean lower cost of living and value for money in terms of purchase power parity.
Successive Barisan Nasional administrations have never been big on cost control. As a result we have mounting national debts and well documented tremendous leakage but it’s not what I am writing about here.
Malaysians should rightly and loudly ask for their money’s worth. Our purchasing power is horrible. In Singapore you can get things for almost half of the nominal value compared to Malaysia. E.g. a pack of vegetable in NTUC can be less than S$1.00 but in Malaysia, the same quantity can reach well over RM1.80.
A viable ETP for the rakyat should focus on the following:
Read more at: http://wangsamajuformalaysia.blogspot.com/2010/09/alternative-economic-transformation.html
