Author Archives: wcw

Dousing the flames

High prices: The weak ringgit has led to the rising cost of imported goods, especially food. – GLENN GUAN/The Star

THE coming months will be rough. No one knows for sure how long it will last as the world grapples with inflation and the prospect of a global recession.

It has hit nearly every country in the world and Malaysia hasn’t been exempted.

Politicians who’ve called for street demonstrations protesting the rising prices of essential items or to demand a return of subsidies are just being opportunistic.

And it’s not because they have any real solutions to resolve the economic headaches either.

These politicians know the public is upset, even if the people are aware of the effects of the Ukraine war and supply chain disruptions.

Last week, Bank Negara Malaysia decided to increase the OPR (overnight policy rate) by another 25 basis points (bps) to 2.25%.

So, the rising interest rates will make borrowing or loan servicing more expensive, especially for businesses and households with existing loans, but it will be good news for those with savings in banks.

The increase will reportedly ease inflation and help support the weakening ringgit, not just against the US dollar but other currencies, too.

The depreciating ringgit has long been a source of frustration for Malaysians. The weak ringgit has led to the rising cost of imported goods, especially food.

We spent in excess of a whopping RM55bil on our food import bill in 2020.

“The weakening ringgit will have a strong impact on imported inflation. This would result in transfer pricing to consumers as cost of living will rise.

“There is a high risk for some under the M40 group to fall into B40 and more of the B40 sliding further,” revealed Ambank Research last week.

It’s hard to explain to ordinary Malaysians that the weak ringgit is because of the stronger dollar from the super-sized rate hikes by the US Federal Reserve, especially when most people prefer to believe what social media feeds tell them.

When times are bad, especially when the pocket is pinched, reasoning takes a back seat. Economics and business analysis don’t make the sexiest news bites.

Perhaps it’s best that only selected Cabinet ministers who understand the issues be allowed to talk to the media.

Malaysians are sick of incompetent politicians and officials who are incapable of engaging intelligently.

For God’s sake, please don’t advise the public to eat fewer eggs when that’s the cheapest source of protein for most Malaysians.

But that’s what happened when one state official from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry shared her economic nous. I would suggest that our politicians and officials research how other countries have tackled inflation, with practical austerity ideas, sans being condescending or insulting our intelligence.

I salute Mydin Hypermarket boss, Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin, for uploading a video on social media on what value RM50, RM100 and RM200 can offer at his outlets.

It’s a clever marketing and advertising plan that’s executed simply and cleverly – without having to spend millions of ringgit.

If our ministers lack a proper communication strategy, the fallout will be costly because inaccurate social media messages will only generate negative traction.

Many irate Malaysians only want to know why the ringgit is sliding, even against our neighbours’ currencies.

More importantly, while we struggle, politicians are busy squabbling over who should be Deputy Prime Minister, replacing a Minister who has hopped to another party and worse, indulging in inconsequential issues which make a mockery of Malaysia.

The federal government has now found itself in a bind. The window period for a general election is gone as the predicted inflation has hit home.

If it holds on until July 15, 2023, when the term of Parliament expires, the government better hope the Ukraine War would have ended and the world’s food production has recovered.

Somehow, it doesn’t look likely, especially with most economists predicting tougher months ahead.

Without the subsidies, the biggest in Malaysia’s history, it will be impossible to retain Malaysia’s official inflation rate of 2.3%, which is among the lowest in the world.

Malaysia is one of the most subsidised nations on Earth, a fact which most Malaysians have taken for granted. Unfortunately, that’s also unsustainable in the long run.

“Without subsidies, inflation should be around 11% as opposed to 2.8%. And the subsidy is costing the government over RM71bil. The weakening ringgit will add more to the import bills,” Ambank said.

The central bank’s foreign reserves of US$109.2bil (RM483bil) as of June 15, 2022, was the lowest since early 2021, and the drop of US$3.6bil (RM16bil) from May 31, 2022, was also the largest in seven years, according to Bloomberg calculations, The Edge reported.

However, it said, economists don’t think the decline in international reserves has reached alarming levels yet as the reserves’ position is sufficient to finance 5.5 months of imports of goods and services and is 1.1 times the total short term external debt.

In a nutshell, we are holding well. We are not like Sri Lanka, but we can’t afford to allow the fall in our reserves to continue at this rate.

There are expectations that there will be further increases in lending rates, with Ambank saying “we gather that a 50bps one-off seems highly unlikely.”

“We are of the view that OPR will end at 2.5% – 2.75%, suggesting another 1-2 more rate hikes with another two hikes in 2023 to 3.00% – 3.25%,” it added.

The Edge also reported that a hike is expected in September to 2.5%.

The most effective way to increase our reserves is to simply build up our revenue. Spending is the easy part, but we need to earn more to halt the slide, too.

Post-lockdown travelling requires more patience

Passengers queueing up at London’s Heathrow Airport recently. More people are travelling these days, but airlines, hotels and airports are struggling to cope with the demand. — Reuters

After nearly three years, I finally hopped on a plane and left the Malaysian skyline. I’d call it revenge travel because I visited three countries in three weeks.

I flew to London in May, using it as a base to journey to Italy and Iceland.

To ensure the travelling dovetailed with my budget, I had paid for my flight ticket as early as March.

It cost me RM9,000 for a business class return ticket on Turkey Airlines, but by the time my travel date arrived, the airline website indicated that the same flight cost over RM27,000.

Basically, plan and book your holidays well in advance because it’ll always be cheaper. And, naturally, compare prices with other airlines.

If you’re on holiday, does it matter that you’re spending a few transit hours at an airport? There’s likely no hurry.

Here’s some sound advice to Malaysians planning on travelling soon – load up on the latest Netflix craze on your devices to while away the time during flight cancellations and postponements.

If our local airlines disappoint us, be aware that it’ll be the same with European airlines, too, because aircraft and airline staff are in short supply all around the world.

My British Airways flight to Iceland was postponed twice, and I had to re-jig my logistics, tour and hotel bookings because of these unscripted changes, much to my annoyance.

It’s upsetting but be ready for such disruptions because the re-opening of borders has led to a huge demand for travel. However, airlines, hotels and airports are struggling to cope with the deluge.

It’s safe to report, though, that there are also pleasant surprises. As my plane began its descent into Heathrow Airport, I asked the cabin crew for arrival cards, which previously required filling.

The attendants said they no longer distributed such documents, which disturbed me because I was worried about the long queues ahead at the immigration checkpoint.

But as I approached the queue, I promptly learned that arrival forms have been waived!

Immigration also doesn’t ask for proof of vaccination. So, rest assured you won’t be asked to show your MySejahtera, although I was well prepared with even printed copies.

It was the same in Italy. I was advised by the Italian Embassy in Malaysia to download an app, and a friend in London even suggested another app that would be recognised in Europe.

As a law-abiding tourist, I did all that. On arrival at Malpensa Airport in Milan, with no WiFi access, I began to sweat and struggle to produce my copies.

Again, the immigration merely whisked me through with just the hurdle of basic questions, like the reasons for my visit and the duration of my stay. No forms, no apps of any kind.

It was a breeze, too, at Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland, with no requirement for documents.

But there’s a big difference seen in Britain, Iceland and Italy. Most Britons and Icelanders don’t wear masks, but in Italy, mask usage is almost 90%, especially inside trains and malls. Everyone was keeping themselves covered.

By then, I had also noticed that occasionally, my hotel room wasn’t cleaned, because the hotels were low on staff. It was summer and they hired students for help.

In fact, students were even manning check-in counters at airports.

Shops struggled to cope with customers, especially tourists. In Bath, England, I was at a clothing store which had only one worker – she was the cashier and shop assistant all rolled into one.

The poor girl told me she would badly need a drink by the end of the day. I bet!

For three weeks, I only had scrambled eggs for breakfast at all the hotels I stayed in England and Italy. The waiters apologised for me missing out on my sunny side up because the kitchen lacked the staff numbers to entertain individual requests.

That aside, it was painfully expensive to travel because of inflation in Europe, courtesy of the Ukraine war.

In Malaysia, many of us take for granted (or don’t realise) that most of our essential items, especially diesel and petrol, are subsidised. But in Europe, it runs on daily fluctuating market prices.

I also felt the pinch of a weakening ringgit. As I entered the last phase of my trip, and began abhorring Western food and feeling home sick, I opted for a Vietnamese pho in Reykjavik.

It cost 1,690 krona, about RM56, for that bowl, though. I almost choked on the noodles, so I knew I had to return to my beloved Malaysia.

At Heathrow airport, the check-in staff at Turkey Airlines gave me a stern look.

She asked me for proof that I had pre-departure Covid-19 tests, insisting that it was Malaysia’s requirement.

I patiently explained to her that it was no longer a necessity and also proved I had my booster shot, as indicated in MySejathera – thank God, Heathrow’s free WiFi works.

Finally, she relented, but not before telling me off – “tell your government to inform Turkey Airlines, see my monitor? It’s not updated.”

My travel experience has taught me this: Never quarrel at the check-in counter with immigration, customs or security. There’s only ever one winner, believe me.

For many travellers, with pent-up desires to make up for the last three years of lockdown, just be prepared for minor inconveniences, especially flight disruptions.

Getting Pricey, How? With Ameer Ali Mydin

Witnessing HK-China history as it unfolded

Historic assignment: (From left) Chun Wai, Kok Leong and the late Sai Wan covering the handover of Hong Kong to China 25 years ago.

FIRST, it drizzled and then it poured. It was really a wet June 30, 1997, when the historic farewell ceremony began, with the British finally leaving Hong Kong and handing over the colony to China.

It’s been 25 years since I witnessed the handover which ended 157 years of British colonial rule as a reporter, but the memories remain etched.

It was as if the wet weather was necessary to cool down the political temperatures.

It was clear that Britain was reluctant to hand back the jewel in the Far East, as some older Brits still think of HK, even in this day and age when air travel is easy.

For the Chinese, the Union Jack was finally lowered and the red flag hoisted.

Reporters covering the event were mostly confined to the convention and exhibition centre where the handover took place.

The Star team, comprising Charles Chan, the late Datuk Wong Sai Wan, Ng Kok Leong, Bonnie Yap and myself, stayed at nearby Wan Chai.

It was a modest hotel located in a seedy place surrounded by clubs, pubs and massage parlours.

But we didn’t complain.

The action was just a hop away, and it was logistically perfect.

And the soy sauce chicken rice at the eatery nearby was really good. Really.

The stiff Chinese President, Jiang Zemin, was the man of the hour.

Naturally, he spoke Mandarin – alien to Cantonese-speaking Hong Kongers – at the ceremony.

Many HK people may not have caught the significance of it. Change had started.

Jiang declared the occasion “a festival for the Chinese nation” and that “it would go down in the annals of history as a day that merits eternal harmony’’ – in short, HK is now under China. It’s simple.

Some Hong Kongers have always thought themselves superior to the mainlanders, even mocking them as simpletons, or Ah Chan as widely used in the colourful Cantonese language.

But they would learn later, after 1997, that China’s economy would explode in the decades to come.

Today, HK accounts for just 3% of China’s economy, according to a report.

On July 1, the day after the handover, the little changes started with the colonial crests and insignias making way for the Bauhinia, China’s HK symbol. Chinese troops quietly rolled into their HK barracks without any fanfare.

On the evening of this world event, my colleague Kok Leong had to cajole, persuade and even pay off some HK residents to capture the mood of thousands of ordinary folk crammed at Victoria Harbour to catch the fireworks display at 8.15pm.

He needed a perfect spot to capture the magic moment but received angry stares instead from people who had booked their spot as early as 9.30am. And he had thought he was early when he reached there at 4pm!

It didn’t help that the rain got heavier, making his task more difficult and he had to rush to a nearby photo shop by 9pm – to get his film processed to make it for page one of The Star.

Remember, this was the pre-digital and pre-mobile phone days, and poor Kok Leong had to push his way through the swarm of people.

He rushed back to the hotel, getting there at 11pm, to scan the images and send them back to The Star in Petaling Jaya, where the editors waited anxiously as the deadline loomed.

The next day, Kok Leong made a confession – there were water marks on the page one picture as his camera lenses were wet, but it made the picture look more surreal to the untrained eyes.

After 1997, I had the opportunity to meet and speak to Jiang as well as other HK leaders, including chief executives Tung Chee Hwa and CY Leung, as part of the Bangkok-based Asia News Network team at the People’s Great Hall in Beijing.

So what has changed? Western media has reported a sharp drop in democratic rights and that press freedom had been violated while the right to protest was killed.

They weren’t entirely wrong. Under the British, the right to protest was guaranteed. The press was certainly more lively as the HK authorities show little tolerance now.

But then, the so-called “peaceful demonstrations” in 2019-2020 were hardly Gandhian. They were violent and no authorities would tolerate weeks and weeks of rioting.

It is also a fact that HK has never been a democracy for over a century. It was for 150 years a British colony, run by an appointed British governor who reported to London – as the Washington Post rightly said.

There were no direct elections with a limited number of seats, mostly involving rich businessmen and professionals. It’s worse now, with seats contested only by pro-Beijing candidates.

HK now depends on China more than ever. Without mainland Chinese tourists, HK is a pale shadow of its old self. Today, businesses hire HK graduates who can speak Mandarin and English – and with knowledge of the mainland.

Over the years, I have made countless trips to HK, meeting up with officials, media friends and just the common folk, including even attending the massive protests there.

Without doubt, there is a strong sense, especially among the young, that China has not lived up to its promise of a “one-country, two-party” system.

But HK isn’t all about liberties and politics. It is hard to live and work in HK as it is one of the most expensive places in the world.

It is one of the richest cities, sitting on foreign currency reserve assets of US$465.7bil and yet it has performed miserably in social housing for the people, unlike Singapore.

Small-time businessmen have suffered greatly during the Covid-19 lockdown, with expensive rentals to pay, and they were certainly not fans of mega protests.

Many working-class Hong Kongers just want a better life, with an apartment and a stable job and the ability to pay their bills and care for their families.

Talk to them, listen to them. Whether it was under the British or now under the Chinese, they don’t really care.

The Chinese race, whether in China, Taiwan, Singapore or Malaysia, has always been a migratory one, searching for a better life for themselves and their children. Those in HK are no exception.

If China can provide the basic needs of the HK people, it would win over their hearts and minds.

Uncomfortably numb

IF following political news in Malaysia seems like a depressing prospect, it must be worse reading about political figures and their corruption cases, which run into millions of ringgit, or billions in the case of the 1MDB debacle.

Piles of money arrive easily in envelopes, bags or via their accounts, and even include colossal sums, with nary an eyebrow raised at the bank, in one case.

Ordinary Malaysians, who keep checking their bank accounts to see only a depleting balance, must find all these revelations hard to digest.

It’s difficult to comprehend the ease with which cash is exchanged.

Worse still, to avoid running afoul of the courts, since these cases are on-going, specific references can’t be made because it will be sub-judice to do so.

Sub-judice is a Latin legal term which simply means the public or witnesses involved in these cases are prohibited from public discussions because the matters are still under judicial consideration.

Accusations made in an open court would still be subjected to rebuttals, and allegations would need to be proven, if they are credible, in later stages of the court cases.

But for many ordinary Malaysians, the details have been shocking.

Only the fanatical loyalists would still have complete faith in their infallible political idols, although, to be fair, no one is guilty until proven so.

Even then, there are still many layers of appeal, and one judge’s decision may be overturned in the next court.

But the humdinger of the week has to be Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi telling the court that “money isn’t everything, but everything needs money.”

We have also discovered how chats in WhatsApp groups aren’t exactly safe. If the police require forensic proof on people they wish to investigate, the communication platform is a weak link.

No wonder some politicians occasionally insist on using Telegram instead, and at least one top businessman insists that my mobile phone be put away whenever we meet for a chat, saying listening devices can be used to eavesdrop on our conversations, which spooked me to no end.

What some of these corruption cases have proven is that graft has become intrinsic in our society.

We know corruption is bad, as exemplified by the 1MDB scandal, but to hear the full-blown bits is something else. It sickens to the pit of the stomach, really.

According to a 2013 public survey in Malaysia by Transparency International (TI), most of the surveyed households perceive Malaysian political parties to be highly corrupt.

A quarter of the surveyed households consider the government’s efforts in the fight against graft to be ineffective.

And that was in 2013.

In 2020, TI Malaysia released the Global Corruption Barometer for Asia 2020, covering 17 countries with 20,000 people surveyed.

This survey for Malaysia was for the period July 2019 to June 2020, when two different governments at the time were reviewed.

The survey found that 71% of Malaysians think that government corruption is a big problem, and it’s noteworthy that 39% of all respondents strongly believe that corruption is on the rise.

Well, we can safely agree that these findings are not news to us and merely reaffirm what we already know or fear.

Malaysia has come to a point where voters seem to tolerate or even accept that their elected representatives could be corrupt. However, so long as they are competent and not excessively corrupt, they will be embraced.

The concept of a clean politician is almost utopian, especially in a non-ideal world.

So, we’re ready to compromise our standards because we have essentially given up.

Corruption has become entrenched and a culture. That’s the perception, be it fact or fiction.

There’s still light at the end of the tunnel though. Our firemen don’t insist on being paid to put out fires, ambulances still turn up for emergencies and policemen, despite being viewed negatively, still apprehend the bad guys.

In government institutions, work continues at a professional level, and approvals are seen through, although not entirely to our satisfaction.

The TI report said only 7% of surveyed Malaysians have been bribed for their vote in an election, which is lower than the 14% average in Asia.

“A total of 15% of surveyed Malaysians have utilised personal connections when accessing public services, which is lower than the average in Asia of 22%,” it said.

“More importantly, of all Malaysians surveyed, a total of 68% still believed that ordinary people could make a difference in fighting corruption, which is higher than the average in Asia of 62%.”

Well, it’s now 2022, and corruption seems to be a full-blown epidemic. The findings would probably have changed drastically by now, I think.

Political instability, party hopping, allegations of money politics and corruption scandals involving political figures would surely result in a dip in expectations, although TI Malaysia’s findings indicate that Malaysians still think we can fight graft.

It’s important for our leaders to lead exemplary lifestyles to send the right message to our people.

They must show that they’re in politics to serve the people and country, and not to enrich themselves.

It’s a farce to preach about struggling for race, religion and country when the common folks know it’s really about self-serving interests for power, positions and money.

Instead of opting for luxurious clothing or accessories, perhaps one could make do with a modest lifestyle, lest it be misconstrued by the observant public. It’s best to avoid unnecessary criticism at this juncture.

The ill-conceived justifications offered, as usual, are even worse. Surely, as ministers, they can afford designer clothing despite public criticism and ridicule.

No one expects our politicians to be as dressed down, with non-matching shoes, like Indonesian president Jokowi.

But he deserves all the accolades from his countrymen and the international audience for his moderate lifestyle.

We don’t need politicians who post pictures on social media about travelling in economy class when it’s a rarity.

Only their supporters happily swallow these shenanigans. The rest of the time, business class seats are the order of the day.

There’s really nothing wrong with travelling comfortably in business class if it means getting enough rest or being able to work while up in the air.

Malaysians are getting smarter. We can detect professionally crafted video recordings, with multiple cameras and lighting, involving religious figures and politicians doing so-called charity work.

Come on, they are so well scripted that it’s time they re-think and evaluate what they have been doing or risk being exposed as fakes.

Viewers have begun to question the well-being of the people aided in the video clips. What has happened to them, post shooting?

Money is important, for sure, but at the same time, there must be a bigger picture.

Perhaps that imagery is best encapsulated by American author John Hagee’s classic quote that the measure of a man’s greatness is not the number of servants he has, but the number of people he serves.

In the Malaysian setting, it’s certainly not the number of bodyguards, aides and police outriders that serves as a gauge.

Rinse and repeat

IT’S become a soul-sapping experience. Most of us can only cringe because some of our politicians are so adept at putting our country in a spot because of their absurd comments.

They seem to continually suffer from the dreaded foot-in-mouth disease.

Most Malaysians have already gotten used to these personalities and the political fatigue they inflict.

There’s an unending sense of hopelessness. Most of us have simply thrown our hands up in despair.

And because we haven’t given up on our beloved country, we still get upset when these politicians put us in the international news for all the wrong reasons.

Obviously, we still care about the image of our country, which explains our distress since some of these inane politicians persist with their tomfoolery.

Dubiously, silly comments made in 2017 have returned with a vengeance to haunt Tasik Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya. Well, that’s how social media works and seldom do people verify what they forward.

The Bersatu politician had said that rape victims can have the opportunity to lead a healthy and good life if they marry their rapists, saying girls aged between nine and 12 years old are “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage.

“For a wife who was raped, if she can marry (the rapist), she would not go through a bleak future. At least she has someone who can become her husband,” he was quoted in the media at the Dewan Rakyat in 2017.

For some reason, the address by the former Penang Bersatu chairman has resurfaced. He isn’t exactly a household name, so most of us can be forgiven for his anonymity.

Still, his only speech engrained in our psyche about child rape victims has reminded us of his contribution to Parliament debates.

Then, there’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, with his endless tirades against Singapore.

The cause of his deep-rooted resentment for the island republic remains a mystery. Maybe only a shrink can give us a good psychoanalysis.

The media had earlier quoted him saying Johor should reclaim Singapore and Riau islands. Perhaps reporters unfamiliar with his trademark sarcasm had taken it too literally.

Or it was simply a Freudian slip. Either way, the next day, he issued a statement of clarification, saying that he wasn’t asking Malaysia to reclaim the land it had lost.

“I am trying to point out that we are so concerned over losing a table-size rock Pulau Batu Puteh, but never about bigger parts of Malaysia when they were taken from us,” he explained.

That’s the trouble with some Malaysian leaders. They love to resurrect old issues which have been buried. After all, giving these dead issues a fresh perspective provides little benefit in bringing them up in the first place.

Maybe Dr Mahathir would ask for the return of Brunei next.

That’s why we’re still talking about unnecessary and contentious issues relating to race, religion and language that were resolved before our independence in 1957, and doggedly pursuing them.

The world doesn’t care if we want to use Bahasa Malaysia, or Bahasa Melayu, or whether we should allow Chinese vernacular schools to exist, or even if we should attend Bon Odori. In the bigger picture, these are all inconsequential, hair-splitting issues that do nothing else than to frame our nation in a bad light.

Honestly, does the world really give two hoots? However, investors do care about pumping money into Malaysia when our neighbours, especially Singapore and now, Vietnam and Indonesia, are making great strides.

Malaysia is looking like a nation in decline because of our politicians who simply lack judgement, intelligence, or even common sense.

They never seem to think through what they say to reporters and barely realise they make Malaysia a global laughingstock and source of ridicule.

Picture this: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob led a delegation to Japan in May to promote Malaysia as an ideal investment country. There, he met top Japanese businessmen including leaders from Mitsubishi Power Ltd, the Japan-Malaysia Economic Association and Rohm Wako Co Ltd.

But a month later, our minister in charge of religion, Datuk Idris Ahmad, literally put the entire effort on a bonfire with his comments on Bon Odori, the biggest Japanese summer festival of the expatriate community in Malaysia.

It has caught the Japanese community by surprise and many Malaysians, in their personal capacity, have had to smooth ruffled feathers.

The timing couldn’t be worse, but it’s unlikely that Idris was even reprimanded because this is a weak federal government struggling to stay intact.

PAS only has 18 Members of Parliament in the 222 seat Dewan Rakyat and yet, almost all its lawmakers are ministers, deputies and at least one, a special envoy to the Middle East.

Well, ambassadors who have called on these PAS lawmakers have plenty to share, diplomatically and cautiously, about their competence – or rather, the lack of it.

On the flip side, there’s former Tourism Minister Datuk Sri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz. He is a polished, urbane, and senior Member of Parliament. With his impeccable English and social skills, he’s the type of minister who can make us proud internationally.

Yet, he too, fumbled last week. He came under fire over his suggestion that floods in Malaysia could be used to promote “voluntourism” or volunteer tourism.

In an interview with Sinar Daily, he said that instead of crying over the flooding situation getting out of control, Malaysia should seek opportunities by promoting volunteer tourism.

After getting battered by netizens, he clarified that voluntourism is a recognised branch of tourism by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

The only problem is he wasn’t convincing. His idea has been, well, flooded with cynical and angry comments and is unlikely to attract tourists to Malaysia hoping to see our rising water levels.

Besides, Malaysia has serious competitors like Bangladesh, India and Pakistan, which have one thing in common with us – we can’t resolve flood problems which occur every year, especially during the monsoon season.

It’s a disgrace, and great injustice to the people of the East Coast that they are inundated by flood problems and the level of preparation by our authorities seems to only be about rescue boats and personnel.

Permanent flood mitigation plans with engineering solutions should be the answer. But chances are, we’ll now hear them blame climate change for the inadequacies and incompetence over flood controls.

But that has not stopped PAS vice-president Datuk Nik Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah from proclaiming that his party is the only political group in Malaysia that has a complete roadmap for Malaysia’s future via its “Wawasan Induk Negara Sejathera” blueprint.

The 30-year-old roadmap, he reportedly said, would resolve Malaysia’s woes in all aspects, proving that PAS is a forward-looking party.

I guess he said all this with a straight face. His party can barely resolve the water woes in Kelantan – the lack of decent piped water and floods.

Politicians should stick to what they do best. Don’t try to be stand-up comics who certainly get more respect from an audience which pays to be entertained.

Seal of approval

Cultural event: Bon Odori has been organised in Malaysia since 1977 by Japanese expatriates. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

The Rulers have spoken, so there’s no chance for Malaysians to be denied a cultural experience.

WHEN Datuk Idris Ahmad, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), made the announcement that Muslims should stay away from the Bon Odori festival in Selangor, the PAS leader obviously had no idea how far he had overstepped his authority.

For some time now, the Malay Rulers have been unhappy about certain politicians and religious figures making statements on Islam without recognising that the real authority on religious matters is the Rulers.

The nine Rulers are the heads of Islam and Malay customs in their respective states.

As for the states without a monarch, the Federal Constitution provides for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to assume the role of the head of Islam.

So, despite holding the position of a federal minister of Islamic affairs, Idris has no real authority to dictate rules in the various states.

When he claimed the Japanese summer festival, which has been celebrated in Malaysia for nearly 45 years, was “influenced by elements of other religions,” it hit a raw nerve.

After all, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah – the head of Islamic affairs in Selangor – had previously attended the event in the state.

Idris crossed the line, and the Selangor palace would not allow that.

The PAS leader alleged that based on a study conducted by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim), the festival contains rituals of other religions.

His remarks upset the Selangor palace as the Bon Odori festival is scheduled to be held at the Shah Alam National Sports Complex on July 16.

In a rebuke, His Royal Highness decreed the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais), the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Idris attend the festival to learn the difference between culture and religion.

But while Idris has chosen to remain silent following the Sultan of Selangor’s statement, the Islamist party hasn’t helped its cause by openly going against the Ruler’s decree.

A series of defiant statements by PAS leaders appear to be an attempt by the party leaders to coax Idris to exert his authority as the federal minister of religious affairs.

Last week, Selangor PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Ahmad Yunus Hairi was summoned by his Royal Highness to a meeting at Istana Bukit Kayangan.

But the matter has been aggravated by a statement by Selangor PAS secretary Roslan Shahir Mohd Shahir – who wasn’t present at the meeting.

The same week, the Selangor palace issued another statement denying that Tuanku had sought PAS’ opinion during an audience on Bon Odori.

Instead, the palace said the monarch only stated his views regarding the Japanese event during the meeting.

The denial was in response to a New Straits Times article on Wednesday, which cited Roslan Shahir saying that His Royal Highness wanted to know the party’s position on Bon Odori.

But the latest incident seems to give the impression that PAS, and by extension, Idris, has not been happy with the authority bestowed on Sultan Sharafuddin by the Conference of Rulers to head the National Council of Islamic Affairs (MKI) in April.

The Ruler, as the council’s chairman, had decreed that Jakim could not issue any statement regarding decisions made by the council since this was now under the jurisdiction of the Muzakarah committee, the MKI and the Conference of Rulers.

It was also announced that Jakim would only act as the secretariat to the Muzakarah committee and MKI.

The decision of the Rulers was significant – the authority of Islamic affairs lies with the respective Sultans and His Majesty.

In 2015, Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar asked Jakim to explain its expenditure and justify its demand for RM1bil in annual allocations and reminded it that the Conference of Rulers was the highest authority on Islamic affairs and the agency’s function was only advisory.

“We are the heads of religion in our own states. Jakim can give advice or propose guidelines, but it is up to us whether we want to accept it or not,” he had said.

Last week, the Sultan of Perak also made an important statement – that Malaysia must aim to maintain the values that have brought post-independence to all its communities despite the challenge it faces.

Sultan Nazrin Shah said Malaysia must champion and remain an exemplar of multiculturalism.

The statements and actions of the two Rulers are a beacon of hope at a time when political figures, using the veil of religion, appear to wield their clout with impunity.

Personal interpretations of religious matters have become laws, without any thought on the consequences for the multiracial fabric of Malaysia.

The silence of many politicians on the Bon Odori issue and failure to back Sultan Sharafuddin smacks of political expediency and reluctance to defend the role of the Rulers, which is clearly defined in the Federal Constitution.

But beyond that, it’s disturbing and tragic that Bon Odori, which has been organised in Malaysia since 1977 by Japanese expatriates, has become a religious and political controversy.

The event in Selangor – touted as the largest outside Japan – is jointly organised by the Japan Club of Kuala Lumpur, the Japanese School of Kuala Lumpur, and the Japanese Embassy, with support from the state government. The event is also held in Penang, the home of many Japanese investors, with the support of the Penang state government.

Ironically, the Mufti of Penang, Datuk Seri Wan Salim Wan Mohd Noor, who had earlier said Muslims should avoid the event, has made a U-turn, and now says Muslims are not barred from taking part in cultural events like the Bon Odori festival, seemingly backtracking on his earlier stance.

It doesn’t look like Malaysians, who believe in a moderate Malaysia that aspires to embrace diversity, can depend on our politicians.

Daulat Tuanku!

Get the balance right

Big impact: Malaysia was the first country in the world to introduce and scrap the GST. – AZMAN GHANI/The Star

THE Barisan Nasional’s 60-year reign came to a grinding halt when it was toppled in the 2018 general election because of two primary reasons – the unpopular goods and services tax (GST) and the 1MDB scandal.

So, it came as a surprise to many, including those in Umno’s leadership, when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob suddenly said that the government hasn’t ruled out the possibility of reinstating the GST.

Some Barisan Nasional leaders privately felt that his remarks were untimely given that the general election would be called soon.

In an interview with Nikkei Asia in Tokyo, published May 31, Ismail Sabri opined that the GST could widen the country’s revenue, but on June 5, the PM quickly clarified that the government was still studying its reintroduction and has not made any decision yet.

He cleared the air by saying he didn’t announce the government would reinstate GST soon, but merely that it was looking into the possibility.

His revelation has, however, re-ignited discussions on the GST and its replacement, the SST (sales and service tax), which was introduced by the Pakatan Harapan government when it took over.

The reality is that after nearly five years, and under three PMs, the SST has not been able to fulfil its objective.

Pakatan made many electoral promises, oblivious to having to fulfil them because the party never thought it would win, in the words of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, but it did by playing the populist card.

The 6% GST first introduced on April 1, 2015, by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak came under fire because it was regarded as too high in comparison to Singapore’s, which began with 3% GST taxation in 1994 and presently is at 7%.

But the island republic has announced that it will raise that figure to 9% in two stages, 1% each time, on Jan 1, 2023, and Jan 1, 2024.

The current rate for sales tax in Malaysia is 5-10% while service tax is 6%. But studies now indicate that there is an average shortfall of RM30bil a year following the shift to SST.

The GST was seen as a method to offset the budget deficit and reduce dependence on revenue from Petronas, as it’s not sustainable in the future. However, despite exemptions on many items, including many domestically consumed items such as fresh food, water and electricity, education and health services, it generated much anger.

Malaysia became the first country in the world to introduce and scrap the GST – and now, we’re seeing the impact of that decision.

The GST is viewed as a wider tax net, especially on consumption because only 16.5% of Malaysia’s 15 million workforce is subjected to individual income tax.

That works out to only 2.475 million individual taxpayers contributing to the projected RM37.36bil in total income tax, according to the Fiscal Outlook 2020 report, revealed The Edge.

Another report said that personal income tax in Malaysia averaged 27.29% from 2004 until 2020, reaching an all-time high of 30% in 2020 and a record low of 25% in 2015.

The GST would have been one way of broadening the tax base or risk overburdening the small pool of tax paying individuals and businesses that contribute 45% of the revenue, the report added.

During Pakatan’s administration, many individual taxpayers were hounded by the Inland Revenue Department for expenses spent over the last seven years under the so-called “capital statement” investigations.

Basically, it required a person to produce every single receipt, in hard copy, for every transaction over the previous seven years to justify that it matches their income, and that spread fear like wildfire.

Under normal circumstances, it’s near impossible to produce receipts for the last seven years – even though the law stipulates that one, in fact, should keep them. But many felt they were mere victims to fill up the coffers.

Dr Mahathir revealed in his book about the many complaints that reached him regarding certain figures in the Finance Ministry.

Many businessmen felt that they were being singled out by the Pakatan government – although they were already paying top taxes – to make up for the SST targets, which could never realistically be met.

So, if the present system continues, the 15% of the country’s workforce would have to bear the burden. Personal income taxes contributed only about 15% of federal government revenue in 2019 – about half of the corporate tax haul.

The cash cow – Petronas – has found its resources depleting drastically since 2014, and despite the recent hike in oil prices, much has gone to paying off our subsidised petrol consumption.

In fact, the subsidies bill could more than double to RM28bil this year if crude oil prices rise with the continuing war in Ukraine.

To put it simply, a return of the GST would generate a stable and predictable tax income because it is an efficient tax system, but it needs plenty of education and must be done gradually since everything in Malaysia is put through the political wringer.

Not enough Malaysians are paying taxes to shoulder the burden of running this country while living in one of the most subsidised nations.

According to Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Malaysia needs to fork out RM71bil in subsidies this year to keep inflation and the cost of living down.

Basically, we must think of ways to find the money to retain the status quo, including casting a wider tax net.

But Malaysians also want to see that their taxes are being properly spent.

Lost in translation

KHAIRY Jamaluddin was dressed in a traditional baju Melayu when he addressed the World Health Organisation meeting in Geneva recently. The handsome Health Minister certainly chose the right forum to dress up.

After all, he was elected as one of the five vice-presidents of the United Nations agency responsible for international public health.

He made Malaysia even prouder when he spoke in impeccable English. KJ, as he is popularly known, also cleverly answered questions from journalists.

Khairy reminded me of Tan Sri Razali Ismail, who also wore the baju Melayu when he addressed the UN as the president of its general assembly in 1996.

The charming and suave diplomat, as most of us old enough would remember, delivered his speeches in English.

Both these gentlemen – KJ and Razali – are true Malay heroes. They topped the hierarchy of international organisations because of their leadership abilities, and certainly not because of affirmative actions.

It’s likely Khairy earned the attention of the audience because he spoke in English.

But Razali and KJ’s proficiency in the language didn’t make them any less Malay. Ironically, the nationalistic politicians praised them for their attire but chose to keep mum about them speaking in English.

In Khairy’s case, it wasn’t just English but good, crisp English – the result of his sound education.

Had they spoken in Malay, the impact of their speeches might have been lost, particularly if they had injected British or American humour.

No doubt, the essence and substance of their speeches matter more than the language used, but those of us who must listen to translations would know the monotonous, deadpan voice of the translators can’t match the impact of the delivered language.

It would be lost in translation, as the saying goes. To put it simply, we’d be gobsmacked if we could hear the horrendous errors made.

For the written word, we know different languages have unique grammar and syntax rules, besides differences in spelling, subject-object verb agreement and sentence construction.

Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with our Malaysian politicians speaking in Bahasa Malaysia at international forums. After all, their counterparts from Thailand, Indonesia, South Korea, Vietnam and Japan would probably do so in their national languages.

In fact, it would be better for them to speak in Bahasa Malaysia – and save Malaysia from international embarrassment – if their English is atrocious. We cringe in horror when we hear their poor delivery, and I think they know who they are.

The saving grace is that at least they tried to speak in English, and they could be forgiven since English isn’t their mother tongue.

It has been erroneously pointed out that Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaks English at international meetings because the republic’s national language is English.

Correction: Malay is Singapore’s official language while English is the working language.

So, advocates of the Malay language as an Asean official language will be pleased to know that they can add Singapore to the list.

But Lee understands that English is the most used international language. There are only six officially recognised international languages in the world and we can argue till the cows come home, but nothing is going to change that. Our national linguistic pride is hardly a concern on the international stage.

No one in his or her right mind can argue the importance of Bahasa Malaysia. Bahasa Melayu is the correct term as it is a Malay language. Likewise, it is the Chinese language – not China or Taiwan language.

While Bahasa Melayu is factually correct, we should try as much as we can to use the linguistic term Bahasa Malaysia, just like our neighbour which sticks to using Bahasa Indonesia. We seemed to interchange too often.

Bahasa Malaysia is used to denote that it’s a unifying language. That will perhaps make some of us understand that Indonesia will always use the term Bahasa Indonesia and not Malay, as it has over 1,000 ethnic groups in the sprawling archipelago.

English has always been an asset to Malaysia. When tourists come to Malaysia, they are relieved that they can comfortably converse with us.

Likewise, investors who pour millions, if not billions, into Malaysia, feel at ease and assured dealing with us because of our English proficiency. Having an established legal system also helps.

So, it’s bizarre when we hear of punitive actions against government officials who use English. Imagine, if you’re from the Foreign Affairs, Tourism, Arts and Culture, or International Trade and Industry Ministries, and you’ve been instructed to use only Bahasa Malaysia.

It defies logic and even puts Malaysia out of reaping its due benefits. English is our competitive edge, and we choose to ignore it.

There is little to gain by politicising the Malay language and proving our Malay-ness because it’s not going to help Malaysia. Instead, other nations will close their doors on us.

Malaysians are beginning to perceive that there is a sudden push for our leaders and officials to use only Bahasa Malaysia because these advocates, in fact, lack the command or confidence in speaking in English.

These leaders have a poor sense of self-esteem, or fail in standing on the global platform, as aptly put by Free Malaysia Today columnist Adzhar Ibrahim.

Their poor command of English scares them as they risk being outshined by the likes of Khairy, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who are comfortable with the language.

Relegating English won’t help our university students one bit. It’s already well known that employers are looking for job seekers who can read and write proper English. Our myopic and selfish politicians are sending the wrong message to these young people.

The public sector is no longer able to absorb more staff into the bloated civil service, where the use of BM can be enforced. But no such rule exists for the private sector.

Even government linked corporations continue to use English. It’s such a waste of time going through this discourse again when our leaders need to attend to more urgent issues such as inflation, cost of living, economic recovery and the weak ringgit. Let’s get our priorities right.

There’s obviously a generational gap as our previous leaders or civil servants were British-trained or studied in MCKK (Malay College Kuala Kangsar) before entering Universiti Malaya.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim studied Malay in UM but as a Penangite, he was exposed to a diverse society.

But we have come to this now. It’s mind boggling that the Foreign Ministry has been directed to set up a special language and culture unit in every mission abroad to teach the staff’s children Malay. They could, instead, focus on improving the linguistic skills of our diplomats, especially English, when given every opportunity and the resources to do so. To punish civil servants for using English is incredulous.

This should not be a zero-sum game. We live in a multiracial country where Malay, Chinese and Tamil are widely spoken and yet, most of us can only converse in one or two languages.

If Malay is the national language, English is an international language. We should learn Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia and Arabic because we know how important these countries are to us economically.

And here’s the irony – London remains a popular destination for Malaysians, especially our politicians and officials, because they find themselves comfortable in Britain.

The elite happily send their children to private schools and universities, so they can be above the B40 group who are trapped in our politicised institutions and systems.

Britain still retains its charm, and visiting London remains a draw. Obviously, the use of English is one reason. Never mind many of these regular Malaysian political elite visitors choose to remain silent when it comes to the never ending discourse on the use of English or Bahasa Malaysia. As the Britons would say, cor blimey!

Wave of hope

When Joko met Elon: Musk chose to talk to the Indonesian president as his country is now seen as a huge economic market with a fast-growing middle-class population. – Reuters

THE picture of President Jokowi in his rolled-up long sleeve white shirt and Tesla boss Elon Musk in a round-collar black T-shirt, says it all. Just two powerful guys hanging out together.

One is the leader of the most populous Muslim nation but is known for his moderate and secular stand. The other is the world’s richest man, known for his edgy innovation and unconventional investment strategies.

They looked comfortable at the informal meeting, and we can assume that Joko Widodo and Musk spoke in English, even though the former speaks in Bahasa Indonesia at global events.

Jokowi has captured the imagination of many with his modesty and dressed down image. With his slender stature, he doesn’t seem to have the cut of a leader, yet his inexpensive attire has only strengthened his man-of-the-people image.

I was fortunate to get an appointment to meet Jokowi in 2014 when he assumed office, a golden ticket I received through a very well-connected Malaysian friend who lives in Jakarta. Let’s just call him a strategist. Jokowi had come to power that year and he wanted to speak to the Malaysian media.

I was told to dress in smart casuals but decided to put on a jacket without a tie. I felt the need to respect the Bapak Presiden since an interview had been lined up.

Lo and behold, Jokowi greeted me in his trademark white shirt and black pants, wearing a pair of non- matching brown shoes to boot.

We spoke in Bahasa Indonesia. Having studied Indonesian literature in Sixth Form and Malay in university certainly helped with my fraternising.

Jokowi was friendly, modest, humble and soft-spoken. In Javanese, he is called a wong cilik, or little people. The English equivalent to that is Indonesian people regarding him as one of them.

Over the years, I travelled to many parts of Indonesia, away from Jakarta, to listen to how the people felt about him. Fast forward to 2022, and his popularity is at its peak as he enters the final phase of his leadership.

He has been entrusted with the chairmanship of G20, or Group of 20 countries of the world’s largest economies, and in 2023, Indonesia will be the chair of Asean.

By early 2024, his second term as president will come to an end, but he would have left a legacy, with most Indonesians believing that he has brought stability, kept Islamic extremism at bay and fought corruption.

More importantly, he has brought confidence and pride to Indonesia. The people feel Jokowi has done well for them, despite the growing discontent over the cost of living. The country is also on a leap to a new phase.

Musk chose to talk to Jokowi – excluding Malaysia and others – simply because Indonesia is the largest producer of nickel, which is essential for batteries for electric vehicles.

Indonesia, with its 300 million population, is now seen as a huge economic market with a fast-growing middle-class population.

Top foreign-owned businesses that have invested in Indonesia include Unilever, Google, Astra International, MedcoEnergi, L-Oreal and Toyota.

If this isn’t a wake-up call for Malaysia, then what is?

In many areas, Indonesia is either just behind us and breathing down our neck or has caught up and even surpassed us.

The biggest psychological barrier that many of us Malaysians have over our neighbours is that we think we’re better off. It’s a classic case of sombong bodoh.

In the minds of some condescending and ignorant Malaysians, Indonesia is just a supplier of maids, and construction and palm oil estate workers.

Yes, we’re dependent on them, and we’re grateful, too, but goodness, Indonesia has progressed so much faster.

It has charted impressive economic development with a projected GDP growth of 5.1% in 2022.

Incredibly for a predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia has no religious insecurity. Although the Muslim groups are powerful, the embrace of Buddhism and Hinduism is open.

There are no half-baked history scholars, unlike in Malaysia, who try to rewrite history by erasing the Hindu past or blacking them out of school textbooks.

It’s also no walk in the park for Jokowi to hold a country of 17,508 islands and 1,340 ethnic groups together.

Without doubt, Malay is the root language of Bahasa Indonesia, but it’s the political identity Indonesia chooses to retain rather than a linguistic term. It has effectively embraced unity in diversity or “bhinneka tunggal ika”, a Kawi or old Javanese phrase, as a national motto, and would rather emphasise its Bahasa Indonesia identity instead of an ethnic one.

While it’s commendable to promote the Malay language as an official language of Asean, Bahasa Indonesia will most likely be standard for political expediency, as Indonesia is mindful, and even sensitive, of the wide linguistic range of its diverse population across its archipelago of nearly two million square kilometres.

Don’t forget that Indonesia stretches all the way to Papua, the eastern most part of Indonesia, with its Melanesian people, and they use Bahasa Indonesia as its formal language.

While Indonesia has been scarred by the racial riots of the past, with ethnic Chinese being targeted, there is now a greater openness and even admissions of how ethnic relationships were badly handled.

There have been numerous successful movies made that feature the riots, and currently, Indonesia’s new breed of ethnic Chinese movie makers and actors including Ernest Prakasa, Dion Wiyoko, Laura Basuki, Morgan Oey and Jenny Zhang Wiradinata have emerged with national celebrity status.

Clearly, our Malaysian politicians need humility as part of their political branding if they hope to endear themselves to us, the common folk.

We’ve endured enough opening speeches taking up 10 minutes of salutations to titled people, politicians with entourage and civil service officials who must take time off from work to welcome and send off politicians and overbearing leaders – those enamoured by showing off that they are more important than us.

Malaysians have had enough of leaders who think they are entitled and privileged. Haven’t we been reading of leaders with millions in the bank accounts or homes stacked with cash and expensive handbags? Not forgetting, too many people have police outriders too, it seems.

Truth be told, the sense of self-importance among some politicians has become nauseating.

And it’s also time our leaders talk about national identity, national aspirations and national hopes – rather than sticking to the narrow ethnic and religious narrative.

Keluarga Malaysia must be seen as embracing diversity openly and sincerely for it to appear genuine. Politicians can’t talk about it and then do something else the next day, or else it will be seen as a hollow slogan.

We won’t attract the likes of Musk to Malaysia if we keep writing the wrong headlines in global news. We need to have the most appropriate branding and narrative, and that means making the right decisions.

Investors have plenty to choose from besides Indonesia, with Vietnam and Thailand ready with their huge manpower supply.

Ceteris paribus, or all other things being equal, we’ll need extra factors to draw investors in, including our diversity, strength as an English-speaking nation, and a strong, clean and moderate government.

Investors will never pump money into Malaysia if we keep changing Prime Ministers.