DROP THE CAR-RAZY PRICES!

credit: Aussiefordadverts

Salaries in Malaysia are not going to go up drastically anytime soon. Meanwhile, inflation continues on its persistent march up.

That means, for us average wage earners, the value of our income will slowly, slowly fall because prices go up faster than wages. That’s just economics.

Though its tempting to clutter this post with CPI tables and charts that show the relationship between inflation and wages (which you can find at the economist’s blog  by the way), most people who have to observe how they spend their money can tell you how much price increases have affected their lifestyles, via food, medicine, education, etc.

Since the likelihood of all of us getting big increments in the near future is slim, any kind of relief would be welcomed with wide open hands.

So let’s talk about car prices.

Malaysians have a love affair with cars.

Maybe it’s our really good highways, or the fact that our subsidized fuel makes it among the cheapest in this region, or that we just love those purring metal beasts, but despite the fact that buying a car would cost you an arm and a leg and your nose, we would still gladly sign over a significant portion of our income for the next 5 years just so we can own our own set of wheels.

Given the state of our public transportation system, that’s not at all surprising too.

Kuala Lumpur especially is fast becoming, or already is, a mass urban sprawl, and it’s not unusual to hear of commutes of 1,2 hours just to get to work.

Cars (and bikes) are an essential part of decent living in this country, though it may not be the green thing to say.

Without automobiles how else is someone who lives in Puchong Perdana going to get to her office in Ampang in a decent amount of time? And what if your job requires you to be mobile?

Living on public transportation alone is not impossible but it would be an experience not much different than eating only vegan gluten-free food in Malaysia.

So when someone suggests that prices for cars could be slashed down, the fact that many would raise their hands in celebration is a surprise only to the out of touch.

That cheaper car prices would make life better for a group of people who are already living on the brink of poverty is easy to understand.

That cheaper car prices frees up more of our income for spending on other things should be as easily comprehended as well, but for some reason it is not.

Sure, more shopping; dresses, cameras, computers, people will buy more of these with more money, but they’ll also be able to afford better education, better homes, and better healthcare.

More money in their pockets affords them better prospects, and gives them more to look forward to when they get home from that horrible commute.

PENGANJUR GOODBYE KL ‘BUTA’

Berbaloikah kita raikan kenangan sedangkan negara kita sangat perlukan lonjakan produktiviti dari penambahbaikan sistem pengangkutan negara?

Festival sejarah anjuran pertubuhan aktivis RakanKL ini mengajak pelawat datang ucapkan ‘selamat tinggal’ kepada kawasan-kawasan bersejarah Kuala Lumpur yang akan berubah dengan pembinaan stesen dan landasan MRT di sana.

Sayangnya, kasih kepada bandar ini hanya mahu dizahirkan sekarang apabila perancangan sudah siap dibuat dan jentolak sudah mula bergerak.

Sebaliknya, aktivis warisan kini tiba-tiba melatah untuk menghalang pembinaan Kuala Lumpur yang lebih baik, sedangkan selama ini mereka enak tidur.

Don't Let Selfish 167 Tenants Get In The Way

No. Seriously. Think. It is in the best interest of we, the 1.2 million rakyat who live along the proposed MRT line (including the 167 tenants mind you!) that will benefit from this new infrastructure?


Why are we making way for these 167 tenants? They (the 167 tenants) should realize that we are at the brink of a new era of development, where a few mega projects, (if executed well) could have long-lasting benefits from it. We’re able to get to work faster, spend more time with our families, less stress from long travelling time and enjoy a better quality of life compared to being stuck in traffic.


No. Seriously. Think. About the economic benefits. The massive magnitude of this project has the multiplier, spillover effect of about 2.5 times i.e. RM213 billion flowing into the economy over the next decade, say MRT Corp.


The RM213 billion is of course based on the impact of money going into the economy from the construction of the whole project i.e. construction of the MRT lines, the stations and the rolling stock.


Like the PLUS North-South Expressway (NSE) that linked all the major cities and towns from Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah to Johor Bahru and to Singapore. These towns and major cities along the 966km (600 mi) stretch that makes up the backbone of Western Peninsula Malaysia has elevated quality of life, hasten development, increase property prices in the area at a multiplier rate.


Taking the PLUS NSE as an example, not only we road travelers benefitted from faster and safer travelling time but these connecting communities benefitted from it as well because the highway stimulated the growth of local and regional entrepreneurs and created more business and job opportunities. Likewise, the MRT can be seen as the backbone of the Klang Valley .


No. Seriously. Think. I know these 167 tenants know all this and we don’t need to spell out our assessment of the long-term economic benefits of this project to them. Because they too see that there is little doubt we must proceed with them. However, they are trying their luck in getting a handsome payout. Selfish. No? Opportunist? DEFINITELY!


No. Seriously. Think. We must try and minimize the impact on those who will be directly affected and compensate them fairly and not let a small group of people derail what is good for the nation as a whole.


The Government must put their foot down and stand firm on this and not backtrack. (…remember the case of unwinding of the MAS – AirAsia share swap deal? A lot of good that did). Sometimes it helps not to take the populist approach… just sayinglah…