The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion
The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion |
| Posted: 13 Oct 2011 08:11 PM PDT OCT 14 — If an "outcome-based budgeting" was the methodology used in the preparation of Prime Minister Datuk Najib Razak's Budget 2012 as alleged, it doesn't take a genius to surmise what the actual "outcome" the premier actually intended for. Coming close to the looming 13th general election (GE), his obsession of securing electoral support far surpassed the dire need of genuine economic reforms. Allocating a whooping RM48.1 billion of the RM232.8 billion national Budget, Najib has indeed committed 20 per cent of the entire budget to a slew of cash handouts, tax breaks and welfare spending to induce the "feel-good" factors he gravely is in need of to secure electoral victory. This writer argues that this budget is doubtless an election budget, much as Najib and his administration might deny otherwise. What would be the economic malaises than should have been addressed by Najib's Budget 2012? What ought to be the "outcome" that would have place Najib in the good books of the World Bank and international rating agencies, all too eager to penalise sovereign states in the wake of the massive sovereign debt crisis bordering bankruptcy? To summarise, the budget should have reflected commitments and programmes aimed at addressing economic malaises, namely, i) fiscal deficit and debt, ii) inflation, iii) income and wealth disparity, iv) over-reliance on unskilled foreign workers, low-value-added enterprises, v) "middle-income" trap, vi) over-reliance on petroleum revenues, vii) crony capitalism, corruption, wastages and leakages in the delivery system. While much lip service has been paid to addressing fiscal deficit and the ballooning federal government debt, it remains unabated year in and out. Admittedly, deficits are not necessarily bad. Keynesian economics advocates that government runs budget deficit, aka counter-cyclical pump-priming, during the economic downturn (bust) and save during the boom time. Very unfortunately, however, this BN government has been "pump-priming" for the last 14 consecutive years. While neighbouring countries like Australia, Singapore, Thailand and even Indonesia have seen surplus budgets during the period between 2003-2008, Malaysia was running deficits even during the good times. Federal government debt has soared from RM200 billion in 2004 to RM456 billion in 2011. Najib tabled Malaysia's biggest budget at RM232.8 billion, up 9.4 percent from the previous year, which again saw the 15th straight deficit budget. In sharp contrast Pakatan's budget caps spending at RM220 billion. Worse still is Najib's attempt at pulling wool over the rakyat's eyes again with his growth numbers and projected fiscal deficit numbers. The projected growth of 5-6 per cent is arguably too optimistic. Pakatan's early scepticism has now been amply vindicated when many investment analysts expressed their anxiety. With growth projection needing downward revision, so would be the projected fiscal deficit of 4.7 per cent of GDP. The BN government's insistence is quite understandable. Najib was almost hysterical in defending his numbers. On record, Maybank Investment Bank Berhad, CIMB Investment Bank Berhad, Affin Investment Bank Berhad and Bank of America Merrill Mynch were all projecting Malaysia's GDP to grow around 4 per cent to 4.5 per cent this year, 2011, and at best between 3.5-4.2 per cent for 2012. With a very challenging external environment ahead and the G3 economies in dire straits, a lower growth rate is expected. Government revenue from personal and corporate taxes will surely be lower. The chance of repeating an unexpected increase in budget revenues seen in 2011 from an increase in the petroleum income tax (RM18 billion in 2010 to RM26 billion in 2011) and in corporate taxes (RM36 billion to RM44 billion) would be remote. Najib's budget also evaded the thorny issue of streamlining tax structure — cutting personal and corporate taxes to boost country's competitiveness in the region. His deafening silence on the GST was loud and clear. A 10 per cent real property gains tax (RPGT) for properties sold within two years of purchase will only net the government a maximum of RM100 million at most. Pakatan's revenue projection stands at RM181 billion compared to RM186.9 billion for the actual budget, and has more reasonable growth projections of 4.2 per cent for 2012. This allows for the deficit in Pakatan's budget to be reduced to 3.66 per cent of GDP (projected at RM918.6 billion using BN's GDP). Pakatan's budget seriously intends to raise revenue by extracting the full value of government concessions and permits. For example, raising the issue price of APs could raise an additional RM1.2 billion in revenue. Pakatan's budget advocates "effective spending" by eliminating the current practices of wastefulness, misdirection and inefficiency which will subsequently generate for the rakyat 20 per cent more in benefits for the same amount spent. Substantively, Najib's budget fails to continue addressing the yawning income divide and wealth disparity, much less on the topic of generating a higher income economy. Wages are low for our workforce in Malaysia. The bottom 40 per cent of households earn RM1,500 per month. Ninety per cent of Malaysians have zero savings and 14 per cent have no wealth — real estate, financial asset, investment and savings. Pakatan's budget is committed to implementing policy initiatives aimed at raising income levels of households and skills of the workforce. A minimum wage of RM1,100 per month will be implemented together with a holistic labour reforms. This involves retraining and up-skilling, job search and relocation assistance and unemployment insurance. A minimum wage is the legally-enforced "floor wage" to ensure that all workers at the lowest level receive a human subsistence wage, while the rest will experience a consequential rise in pay. Pakatan's budget will herald a new era by implementing wide-ranging policy and regulatory reforms to reduce cost of living, encourage SMEs and investment. Specifically, an open-tender policy for government procurement will reward the "know-how" instead of giving it to rent-seekers aka cronies with the "know-who". Affirmative measures for Bumiputeras and other disadvantaged groups will focus on strengthening the capability of such groups to compete through education, training and financial support. An Unfair Public Contracts Act will be enacted to empower a review into the lop-sided concessions and agreements that are deemed to be against the public interest. All monopolies that erode the disposable income of ordinary Malaysians and result in high business cost would be restructured in 2012. The professionalism and glory of the civil service of the earlier decades will be restored to better serve all the rakyat, from the individuals to small traders, big conglomerates and even international investors. If Najib still fails to relate to the real task of a premier who is seeking a mandate for himself in the next GE, then it pays for Najib to take heed. His penchant for flip-flops, both in economic and political reforms, has become both pathological and extremely deplorable. It's the economy (read budget), sir! * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
| Why fear of sex and sexuality is silly, dangerous and is bad TV Posted: 13 Oct 2011 04:32 PM PDT OCT 14 — I am writing this article sitting cross-legged in a corner of the hotel where the Indonesian National AIDS Conference is being held in Yogyakarta. There is a buzz in the air and I can see activists gathering in small groups and conferring with their colleagues. It is an amazing sight. There are demonstrations being held in the lobby and activists can be seen holding placards and banners with slogans ranging from demanding better and free access to HIV treatment to recognising sex work as a form of legal employment. A protest banner has been draped onto the car of the health minister and a guy with a megaphone can be heard demanding the government to give better accountability on the use of public funds. Later that day, hundreds of sex workers took to the streets of Yogyakarta, demanding the government take serious action to curb the spread of HIV, increase the allocation for prevention and awareness programmes, and end discrimination and criminalisation of sex work. There are so many communities gathered here. Government officials are sitting down in heated discussions with representatives of people who use drugs and men who have sex with men. The governor of Yogyakarta is answering questions from transgender persons or waria. There are sex workers sharing a lumpia snack with representatives of international donors. Exciting times. When the first AIDS case was reported in Indonesia, it was 1987. Today, they have a national prevalence of 0.2 per cent with over 300,000 people estimated to be with HIV. The past five years have also seen the number of newly-confirmed cases doubling to 4,158 in 2010. Sixty-five per cent of infections occurred through unprotected heterosexual intercourse. When viewed in comparison, Malaysia has a prevalence of 0.5 per cent. More than 120,000 persons have been estimated to be infected and in 2010, 3,652 persons were newly reported with HIV. In that year, around 49 per cent of cases were through sex. The year before, it was around 30 per cent. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the HIV challenge for Malaysia for the next five years will be addressing sexual transmission. Are we ready for it? Somehow, I am not very optimistic. While Indonesia endeavoured to take a pragmatic and commonsense approach to dealing with sexual reproductive health, Malaysia is now grappling with the consequences of decades of neglect and denial in dealing with this issue. The results from the Kotex BodyLife IQ Test in 2009 for Malaysia were quite revealing. They may look sophisticated or have contemporary lifestyles but young Malaysian women have shocking gaps in basic knowledge of their own bodies. In the survey of six countries, they were found to be most ignorant about issues regarding pregnancy with 84 per cent failing to answer correctly on related questions. Fifty-seven per cent did not even know where their hymen is located. A quarter of them believe that you could lose your virginity by riding a bike. Indonesian young women face similar problems with 26 per cent believing that heavy petting can result in pregnancy. They too had low levels of knowledge regarding pregnancy. While Indonesia has had nationwide public campaigns promoting the use of condoms and safer sex and creating awareness through sexual reproductive health education to deal with unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, we have moved in the opposite direction. A few years ago, a legislator suggested registering the use of condoms. For two decades, the curriculum for sex education has been "ping-ponged" from one government department to another with well-meaning but misguided parents lending opposition to its possible implementation in schools. There are things to learn from Indonesia. We know what works and what does not. There is no need to find the unique Malaysian approach or solution to the issues of concern. In our fear and ignorance, the diverse issues related to sex and sexuality also appear to have become bogeymen for some people and threats to others. Recently, many of us were shocked by the blatant and demeaning discrimination, naked hatred and ignorant opinions being expressed on a TV talk show segment titled "Pondan, Ancaman Wanita" (Effeminate Men A Threat To Women). The wild accusations of effeminate men and transgendered people stealing husbands and jobs were exactly that. Wild. Let us be clear. It is OK to discuss these issues. It is in fact commendable of the TV station to provide a platform for the discussion of issues relating to sexuality. We should encourage this as it will increase our understanding and respect for the human rights of all. What is not acceptable is stirring up hate and prejudice towards a group of individuals who, honestly, when you actually speak to them (if the persons on the show had bothered to do so) want nothing more than live their lives normally and in peace like everyone else. Already there are some repercussions after the show. A number of persons working in the private and government sectors who also happen to be transgendered have already begun reporting renewed incidences of discrimination. Co-workers who previously had no problems with having a colleague who is also a transgendered person have become hostile. Some bosses are advising their subordinates to wear "proper clothes" and cut their hair. It might have been indulgent for both the hosts and guests of the show to engage in these issues in such an unintelligent and irresponsible manner but there are real-life consequences for those who live their lives as transgendered persons. The assertions shared on that show were also extremely demeaning for women. It asserts that women are powerless and at the mercy of the so-called threat posed by transgendered persons. One of the alarming aspects of this ill-informed discourse has been the seemingly acceptable position to discriminate, be prejudicial and hate those who do not conform, in this case people who are transgendered. At the end of the day, when such shows are conducted in such a manner where fear, ignorance and lack of compassion rules, it adds nothing to intelligent discourse and understanding. What you get instead is a bigoted, ill-informed and, frankly, a bad and embarrassing show. In Indonesia, I saw transgendered persons in their high heels and beautiful kebayas respectfully asking questions of the government officials and representatives of the Yogyakarta governor. They are recognised, treated as equals and with respect. I am sure that we can do the same here in Malaysia. * The views expressed here are the personal opinion of the columnist. Full content generated by Get Full RSS. |
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