Change my lifestyle? Who me? - Urban poor in a kampong in Penang Island
Here they go again, telling you to change your life-style:
Malaysians Should Change Lifestyle To Manage High Oil Prices
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) — It is important for Malaysians to change their lifestyle to help bring down the consumption of non-renewable energy while measures are being implemented to alleviate the hardship arising from cost-push inflation, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) said.
I am not sure what the pakciks and makciks in the kampongs, long-houses, estates, orang asli settlements, low-cost flats and urban pioneer settlements will make of this. And let’s not forget the migrant workers crammed 20-to-a-house. They are certainly not the ones cruising the roads in their Mercs or BMWs and spending RM10 on a cup of latte.
Here’s a response from Justin Choo:
Anil
Makciks and Pakciks, kampongs and long houses, may be far away in the rural areas. You have not mentioned the retired people like me. No more active income. Some still got to feed grandchildren. I live a very, very simple lifestyle. No smoking, no drinking, no gambling, no womanising (too old lah, and also not rich!), always stay at home, eat small breakfast, and two simple meals a day, drive an old red “taxi” Proton Saga, and wear shorts and T-shirt, and slippers. What lifestyle to change? The only change is upgrade! Eat the most sumptious cuisine in fine-dining style? Savour fine wines and caviar, birdnest soup, abalone with scallops, baked lobsters drenched in the finest red wine. Fly to New York, Paris and London for shopping, etc…. How nice.
Let’s see the Ministers leading by example and dumping their petrol-guzzling cars, with all the escorts and outriders, and taking public transport everyday.
Some quick points from the Budget:
The Budget deficit has crept up to a worrying 4.8 per cent of GDP this year (2008) despite record high oil prices.
Now we are bracing for a global economic slowdown, triggered by what some economists are predicting could be the worst US recession since the Great Depression. Can we really achieve the forecasted budget deficit of 3.6 per cent next year? Isn’t that forecast a bit too optimistic?
We seen to be spending a lot on infrastructure (the hardware), but what about improving the skills and capabilities of workers (the software, so to speak)?
What exactly has been done to promote sustainable jobs?
How are we going to protect workers from possible retrenchment? Will there be a retrenchment fund to assist such workers?
What is our policy on reducing reliance on migrant workers? Shouldn’t we have a minimum wage?
The unofficial inflation rate is probably closer to 10 per cent. It is good that the government has increased the minimum pension, but this is not going to substantially improve the quality of life.
More concrete policies are needed to deal with the following key areas:
- housing – perhaps greater subsidies for rentals of low-cost housing.
- public transport – greater investments and subsidies not just for the cities but all major towns across the country.
- health care – again, a worrying emphasis on health tourism at a time when there are not enough specialists in government service.
- food – more subsidies needed for essential food items to make them affordable.
- environment – what are we doing to slow down global warming and protect the environment?
When I saw the allocation of RM475 million for agricultural inputs, fertilisers and pesticides to assist padi farmers, the first thought that came to mind was that it would benefit corporate agriculture, especially the agri-chemical suppliers and the agrobusiness firms.
Are there any allocations to promote sustainable (organic agriculture) and research into renewable energy such as solar energy?
While it is good that the eligibility income threshold for social welfare aid has been raised, many people are still receiving insufficient assistance. One MP told me there is not enough assistance for single mothers. He said there are many such cases in his constituency such as the one he encountered of a single mother with four children who had run out of money and simply couldn’t afford to feed them all. How does this Budget help people like them?
Shouldn’t we be revamping our social security system to make sure no one is left hungry or homeless or without a balanced diet?
If i change my life style – cant event efford to put a comment in your blog.
rajraman.where to save,how to save i know but the warlords still dont know how to jump start the economy.(for their pockets lah)
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Please do not change your lifestyle. BN MPs should change, dump BN and move to Pakatan Rakyat!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It is easy for them to change our life style. How is one who has lost his job due to down sizing or relocating and with no income at all going to change his life style? How is the poor trishaw rider who has no other means of earning going to change his life style? How is the poor estate worker who may be evicted when the rich devoloper eyes the piece of land he is squatting on do it? AAB and his ilk can talk and in the next instant they will be planning their next holiday in Perth or having buka puasa in Marriot while the rest of us can watch holiday destination on TV (that is those who can still afford) and eat yesterday’s left overs (if any left) for buka puasa. Some are forever puasa!!!
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Malaysians have already changed their lifestyle. Parents are doing their very best to make ends meet with rising inflation. Parents are tightening their belts to see that their children are given at least three meals a day. Parents are saving the little money they have to ensure that their children are given good education. Parents are loosing sleep thinking of what would happen to the future of their children and grandchildren in years to come when the gap between the rich and the poor becomes wider. The rich are enjoying life, the poor are suffering. The rich can never change their lifestyle as they are flushed with wealth. The poor are the ones who suffer most. 90 per cent of Malaysians are finding life hard now. The government has failed to manage the country to make the lower income group live a decent life. But, in most instances we see the rich are being further enriched. the budget, I doubt, has the trickling effect to make the poor lead a confortable life. Corruption, cronyism, accountability and lack of transparency are the factors that are going to make the money meant for the people flaundered.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Well what has changed with the budget, a mere sweetener to aplease some but where are the plans of price control or to overcome the budget deficit?
What was mentioned about the current inflation rate? It may be more than 10% looking at the increase in price of goods or plans to attract foreign investors? I am not seeing anything what so ever but goodies being offerred to East Malaysia citing it has been long overlooked. I may not a political analyst but even a lay man would understand why?
At the end I am not seeing any concrete plan to bridge poverty among the classes and reducing the rakyats burden! It seems that the rakyat need to change their life style again, I wonder how? I may have to trade in my 13 year old Proton Eswara for a motorbike or even better to a bicycle. Any interested buyer?
http://the-avathar.blogspot.com/
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
if BN gomen are serious..
they should hv spelt out measures to curtail their own excesiveness…
potong allowances..
overseas shopping spree…
blah blah blah…
1 million household with RM20/- TNB bill…u kidding ? badawi trying to fool smart ppl like us ?
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I know the most common advice is to spend prudently at times of economic downturn. Yes, change our lifestyle… But what if the Rakyat is already scrapping the floor for bread crumbs? What else is there to change?
If the government is too dumb or sleepy to think of ways to kick start the economy AND everyone starts to spend less and less, the whole economy will shrink/collapse (negative GDP). Adding on to this, we have high inflation rate causing spiralling effect on all goods especially basic necessities. Negative GDP (or stagnant growth) + Inflation = Stagflation?
Very soon we’ll hear the announcement “Ladies and Gentlemen, please fasten tight YOUR BELTS. We are heading for a crash. Thank you for flying Air Bodohwi. This is recording. If you look out of the window, you can see your captain, co-pilot and crew in their parachutes waving at your sorry a**.”
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear Anil,
I think AAB is trying to make peace with all the neglected people in Malaysia. What a moron…Why only now want to ease the life of SABAH n SARAWAK bumiputra..+ orang asli? Just because they have same voting right of depleted suppoter of BN. This is totally broad day ….. ACA (please investigate). I forget ACA also get pay from BN Gomen.
Why ACA now only do their jobs..catching small fries ( I prefer to terms its as plankton) not rumored big curropted fish… ……………………….
No matter what gomen is doing now is too late to save BN..
I just wonder how many percent of the money budgeted for helping the poor really reach the hand of the poor…..Anil I think less than 10% what about your opinion.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
donatelo on August 30th, 2008 at 4.25pm
Dear Anil,
“I think AAB is trying to make peace with all the neglected people in Malaysia. What a moron…Why only now want to ease the life of SABAH n SARAWAK bumiputra..+ orang asli?”
Corrections…in Sarawak they only ease the life of the white-hair and their cronies (white rajah generation)
Apai
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Dear Anil,
Well what is new? Change our lifestyle, the same propaganda before and after the 12GE.
I am neither an economist nor a political analyst, just wondering if the gormen were adressing the Budget Deficit? How about inflation or the continuous rising of cost of consumer good.I am not sure of reading anything about that.
Why the sudden focus in East Malaysia now after it was neglected for a long time. No offence to the people there as you deserve the best not just crumbs. So I need to change my life style? I shall trade in my 13 year old Proton Eswara either for a motorbike or even better for a bicyle.
http://the-avathar.blogspot.com/
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Changing of our lifestyle? How about getting the all the BN ministers to give up their monthly allowance and income and give it to all the charities in Malaysia? The innocent children and elderly need to have enough money to survive with the increase of food prices and electricity rates.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
[...] Budget Day: Go on, change your lifestyle [...]
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Don’t worry life will automatically change,when you don’t have money how can you survive without changing your lifestyle.
——————-
salina
Blazeinfotech
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
households now owe as much as the entire U.S. economy can produce in a year
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
How to change our lifestyle? By not working in a palatial office or live in a palatial mansion built with our tax money, or discard our foreign make car to make way for proton “junk”? He need to be specific on his statement.
Complain about this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0