The Malaysian Insider :: Opinion

Posted: 02 Jan 2014 03:48 PM PST

January 03, 2014

Zan Azlee is a documentary filmmaker, journalist, writer, New Media practitioner and lecturer. He runs Fat Bidin Media www.fatbidin.com

Ahh... the 11 steps taken by the government to cut their spending. This was announced earlier in the week by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Let's see. There is a cut of between 5% and 10% in the allowances for ministers and deputy ministers as well as senior government officials.

Then there are the cuts in utilities costs in all government offices and reduction of road transport tolls for senior government officials as much as 30%.

There will also be reductions in the ordering of buntings, of food for meetings, seminars and workshops as well as more efficient office space architecture.

Cutting down the allowances of ministers, deputies and senior government officials is a good move. However, it doesn't reduce costs by that much.

What would be a much better move would be to remove certain 'retired' ministers from the government payroll altogether.

There are several of these individuals who have been given special posts and are probably getting paid as much as ministers are, including allowances and benefits.

And then there is the reduction of bunting orders. How significant of an amount is that? Unless, of course, the government prints a gazillion buntings a year!

As for the excessive ordering of food for meetings, workshops and seminars, well I can't argue with that one as it is quite true.

I've been to many government meetings and functions before. And believe me, the amount that is served is ridiculous (and most of the time, taste horrible!).

Cutting down on the utilities cost is a relatively good move. Well, to be perfectly honest, every little bit helps because a sen here and there does add up to a ringgit.

But there's also the issue of perception.

We all know too well the spending nature of Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. More so of his wife, of course.

The cost to run and maintain the Prime Minister's official residence, at RM2.3 million just for utility bills, is such an exorbitant amount.

Then there is the oversea trips that are taken by Rosmah using the government's official jet. That must cost quite a bomb too.

So before trying to tighten everyone's belt in order to save the government money, wouldn't it be better for the Prime Minister to get his own house in order first?

This reminds me of a story that has been going around Facebook recently about the President of Uruguay, Jose Mujica.

Reports say that he actually donates 90% of his salary to the poor, lives on a small and modest farm own by his wife, and drives an old beat up Volkswagen.

He came from a poor family, struggled from a young age to fight and contribute to his country, and now that he is the head of the nation, lives humbly.

Just because of that, he is admired all around the world. Nobody is even asking if he is an efficient president. They're just captivated by his story.

So it really doesn't take much to appease the people. They just want to be seen as being treated fairly and they aren't being taken advantage of.

So what say you about all this, Yang Amat Berhormat Prime Minister? – January 3, 2014.

Tighten your belt before ours, Najib