Superficial “populist gestures are like free meals”
Ever since the new PR government took over Penang, we have seen several populist measures introduced. On the face of it, these measures appear good. Rather than squandering funds or handing them over to cronies, benefits in cash or kind are actually handed to the rakyat. So I agree, it is better than handing them over to the cronies.
But I have a couple of reservations. These are one-off payments that don’t bring lasting benefit. They are also superficial - in that the sums handed over to each of the rakyat are too negligible to make much difference to their lives. It’s like handing bags of rice to the poor. Once the rice is finished, what then? It feels good to hand over goodies to the poor, but once we have handed over these goodies, which are used up in no time, what happens? We invariably forget about the poor - until the next occasion we start feeling generous and charitable again.
Each allocation for superficial populist gestures carries with it an “opportunity cost” - which means it deprives the state of funds for more meaningful future projects that would really empower the poor. Such projects would include affordable housing for the poor, scholarships for poor students, affordable higher education, access to affordable quality health care, literacy programmes, skills training and loans for small businesses.
We also have to get to the root of the structural problems in our society. What is it in our system of economic development that results in workers having a tough time making ends meet? Why is the gap between the rich and the poor growing larger over time?
Here’s Goh Ban Lee’s take on such populist gestures in his column in theSun earlier this month:
Indeed, if there were to be an opinion poll, it would not be a surprise if more than 70% of Penangites thought that the state government was doing a good job.
The populist gestures also helped. These included waivers of summonses related to hawkers and parking, one-off RM600 payment to religious teachers and the distribution of 5kg bags of rice to the poor.
Reports that Lim was saving the state hundreds of thousands of ringgit by staying in his parents’ house and his flying in “economy” class when he was entitled to “business” generally received accolades. Directing the local councils to grant free-parking stickers to reporters should gain Lim brownie points, at least from those in the mass media.
The announcement to allow “conversion” of leasehold land to freehold has also generated much praise.
While it is understandable for a new chief minister to indulge in some populist gestures, it is basically antithesis to good governance. Populist gestures are like free-meals; they cannot be sustained. In some cases, they are akin to selling the future for momentary gratification.
The adverse consequences of the illegal waivers of summonses have been discussed in the Local Counsel column (theSun, March 25) and need not be repeated here. Giving reporters free-parking stickers borders on corruption.
Goh Ban Lee shares my reservations about the conversion of leasehold titles to freehold: while I understand that those with leasehold land will be overjoyed to obtain freehold status, does this come at a price for future generations?
So far, the reasons for land tenure conversion have not been made public. How many titles are affected? What is the amount of land under leasehold? What is the amount of premium to be paid? What are the implications on land management?
Surely, there are good reasons for land alienation in leasehold rather than freehold. At the very least, changing leasehold to freehold will make public development projects much more expensive in the future.
William S W Lim in an article on ‘Human rights and social justice’ highlights this point in a different way:
The issue of land must clearly be analysed beyond the framework of legal status and rights of ownership. In my opinion, two vital issues must be addressed: firstly, the right of tenancy in both urban and rural areas must be recognised and safeguarded by law. Secondly, land should not be sold, but leased for a limited period, with a maximum of 99 years. This is in order for the state to repossess the land in the long term. We must recognise that land is a vital resource of the whole community. The rising values of urban land are caused by the demand and investment of the entire society. Notwithstanding the private ownership of land, the development potentials are regulated and granted by the authority. As a principle of equity and social justice, a substantial portion of the incremental values must be reclaimed for society, which has already been carried out in different ways in Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Singapore.
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I agree that it’s better to teach someone how to fish but I think that the fact that they are one-off payments speaks for itself. The value of a hundred ringgit is still relative in this inflationary period and any immediate relief is better than none. We’re not talking crony amounts here.
Which brings me to Goh Ban Lee’s conclusion that giving reporters free parking stickers borders on corruption. This is one of the reasons why I hate reading the msm. You’re happily reading along and all of a sudden you get a racquet in your face.
40 sen per half hour corruption, is it? Why doesn’t he focus on writing about the real corruption and fill us in?
“Give a man a fish, and (you will) feed him for a day. Teach him to fish, and (you will) feed him for life.”
The above saying is attributed to Lao Tzu. I think it definitely sums up the issue at hand.
There is nothing wrong with the government acting charitably when citizens, especially those who are barely making ends meet, are caught in an unexpected economic hardship resulting from natural or man made crisis (e.g., heavy rains that cause flooding or excessive increase in price of foodstuff due to human greed that has brought about excessive market speculation or hoarding). But such a needed act of compassion is merely aimed at getting citizens out of an ecnomic jam.
Good responsible governance should engage in sustained effort in providing the tools, infrastructure and institutional mechanism to assist citizens to empower themselves for the long haul.
The fruits of a long-term plan of empowering citizens are usually not readily or quickly apparent, often taking up a longer time than the tenure of politicians in government. And it does not offer politicians good photo-ops. Lesser politicians are thus more attracted to the quick fix mentality. The one-off aids are a much easier way out and offer politicians good photo-ops for politicians to try and create good public perception for them.
Let’s hope PR politicians in control of stage governments–many of whom well educated, brimming with ideas and perspectives not mired in the same-old same-old policies of the BN of the past 50 years–keep in mind the more difficult road out of empowering the rakyat for the long haul. The rakyat too must learn to understand that the easier way out is not the answer for the long haul.
Dear AnilNetto,
We applaud your stand on this issue and agree whole-heartedly with your assertions on subsidies.
Unfortunately, it’s very difficult, almost to the point of being impossible, to put “freebies” in a bad light to the majority of Malaysians.
Individual gratification will always trump collective reason.
How unfortunate…
http://www.suaradu.com
At least people have free meals from the Government rather than the previous Government pocket the money. Anyway, is there any young people getting free meals or are they senior citizens? Today, due to cheap labour from Burma, Bangla, many senior citizens cannot get a part time job!!! I hear a chinese guy employ a Burmese to cook chinese food inhis stall. This boss just shake legs whereas, the Burmese cook work day and night. So who is to blame? Even many youths cannot get a job. They just sell DVD or handphones.
You have to start somewhere, populist or not. At least they got some wheels in motion. Dun do also kena, do also kena.
I am a Penangite and I am so proud of Penang when the time it is under Dr.Lim Chong Eu … that is Penang in terms of economy, social, environment etc at its best. The moment the state is governed by TSK & Gang … all I can say is that Penang gets worst and worst everyday. In their so many years of rule, there is nothing done by them except to hold up the UMNO b****.
With the change to DAP Penang, whether it is populist or not, all they have done so far beats the crap off what near to nothing that TSK & Gang did for Penang when they are in power.
I hope that DAP Penang should just ignore federal. Think of the Penang state as the next Singapore in the making. If you don’t have fund, then make use of your resources wisely like that of Temasek investing in and creating global Penang originated ventures worldwide.
As far as I am concern with or without Federal it don’t matter. For the many years TSK & Gang is in power under BN, what f*** does federal contributed to the advancement of Penang? Answer: Nothing. What is done is just implementing Dr. Lim Chong Eu’s ideas and plan.
Penang is a unique state, we have smart people that needs room to show off what we can do. Forget federal forget BN, if Singapore can make it, Penang also can.
I think personally Gerakan in Penang should just close shop because they don’t have visionaries and people that is capable to bring Penang to the next level, the so many years they are in power just goes to show the total lack of talent. Today, we don’t need politicians, we don’t need leaders. What we seriously need are TALENTED, INNOVATIVE and SMART people to run the state using different and more progressive model of governance.
The welfare department has list of trodent poor, the unfortunate and the cripples. Instead of giving alms once or twice a year during festivals00,senior citizens, disater victims and others; why not practice giving monthly rations which will benifit them.
Hope the PR start of this fund and surely all the poor will benifit.
Also have a review every six months their lifestyle.
well, of course it’s welfare gesture for the real plan to work out is too long a wait. It’s also a timely reminder to all that the current state government do care for the people. Unlike previous government or like the federal government, after years of governing still, the people were left to beg. While we want to see the good effect from changing the state government, we also need to remind ourself that it’s less than 6 months after DAP take over, whatsmore going in an empty office. Give them time as well as ideas, because they are people centered rather than their crony.