Be careful with what we wish for

Not too many moons ago, Malaysians were wishing for cheaper petrol. Wish granted, together with a stinky economy. The moral of the story? Be careful with what we wish for.

I am also very surprised to learn - not many know how the economy works. Yet, without a clue, they invest heaps in share markets, or in bonds. They have no clue how it works. No clue how others scam the system. And more would even scam the scam. That would be me.

I have manage to make some money out of the down turn. I sure hope to make more from the stock market. But the thing is, if one doesn't know how it works, please don't dump your money there. Any vendor (that's the guy selling stocks, your broker or a unit trust agent) would never say their goods are not good. It is their job to say they sell the best. So, be smart. Learn more, before you part with your money for good.

One of my friends lost more than RM 100,000 in the stock market. She bought Timedotcom shares when it was high and when the main shareholders - UEM was selling like no tomorrow. Now, she's stuck with them. I told her last year to just get rid of all her shares and keep cash. She told her friends, and my friends, that I was a nutcase. Told her again to sell it in February - she said she wanted to keep it because of some losses. I told her to cut loss and just sell. She didn't. In the end, by September, she asked me for some serious advice. I told her to sell. She did. It didn't go down any further, but at least she has some cash now.

I am no economic expert, but the signs where there. Reserve banks started to raise interest rates last year, signalling a overheated economy. That's the sign to sell. When the Reserve Banks cut interest rates - it means shit has happened. I am no expert, but I just listen to the governors. They may not be 100% accurate, but they sure know hell a lot more than I do, in terms of economics at least.

Nett nett - just be careful with what we wish for. It might just come true.

Votes for Sale

That's right. Votes are indeed for sale in Malaysia. BN has offered up to RM 0.30 per litre of subsidy for petrol, while our friend Anwar Ibrahim made a more generous offer of RM 0.50 per letre of subsidy for petrol. I wonder will someone counter offer and dish out free petrol.

Yup, the politicians are into vote buying, be it the ruling or the former ruling. It does look like a Friends for Sale or Votes for Sale application out of Facebook. The sadder part is, most Malaysian votes are actually up for grabs this way. It is the mother of all lelong (auction) in Malaysia. Now, USA must be happy that free-trade and democracy is going well, hand in hand.

Anwar even went on to say, Petronas is profitable - so, the entire Malaysia should benefit from it. Huh? Did he read the Little Red Book by Chairman Mao when he was doing time? Petronas, by and large, is a private entity. Sure, some would argue the government shouldn't have sold it. But Anwar didn't bother to say - how much exactly of Petronas' profit is from Malaysia. I am pretty sure a large chunk of it is from overseas. So, why on earth so Malaysians get those profit? Wouldn't such statement scare the daylights out of foreign investors? What's next? Put for subsidized Intel CPUs for Malaysians?

The sad thing is, Malaysians enjoy being buggered. For the purpose of argument, let's say it is 50 cents per litre - the subsidy. And being patrotic, I drive a Proton Waja. Know something? Excise duty is RM 11843 while sales tax is RM 5758 for a stupid Proton Waja. So, the total tax is RM 17501. This is enough subsidy for 35202 litres of petrol. Assuming I use about 30 litres a week (or about 350 km per week, which is reasonable), it bloody takes me about 1170 weeks to re-claim my taxes. That works out to be 22 years. So, Anwar, go do something with yourself on the so called subsidy. It is actually pre-paid petrol, which in after 10 years, the car is rotten and I will have to pre-pay for more petrol. Ok, you may use more petrol, even by doubling it up to 60 litres a week, it is pre-paid petrol for 11 years. Will a Proton last 11 years? Mind you, these are based on a lousy Proton Wira. (I've not included road tax yet!).

A well played game indeed by the politicians. Using the rakyat's money to buy the rakyat's votes. Malaysia Boleh!

So, to my fellow "Votes for Sale" rakyat, please ask the bloody politicians to GET RID of the SUBSIDY. At the same time, GET RID of the TAXES! Now, I would like to see a politician say that. Otherwise, we are all just buggered, one way or the other. It doesn't matter if we are getting shafted by a gay guy or getting shafted by a lady with a strap-on. The nett result is, we are buggered!

My Dear Opposition

The opposition in Malaysia, is no better than the ruling party, in my humble opinion. Lack of substance. Here's why.

Till today, they have not formed a Shadow Cabinet. Come one. Show some leadership. Get organized. Form a Shadow Cabinet. That way, the rakyat can truly see their performance. Instead, they are too busying getting a bunch of "traitors" to dump BN and form government with them.

And what on earth are the opposition trying to do? Do they want this place to be another Thailand? Don't get me wrong, I love Thailand and that's their way of getting things done. But heck, this is Malaysia. Governments being thrown out? Treat of a coup? Like it or not, PKR better learn to respect the rakyat. This BN Government, currently headed by Badawi and assisted by Khairy, was voted in by the rakyat. So, till the next elections, no one better insult the rakyat by throwing BN out of power - unless it is via ballots. Anything else is a sheer failure of democracy - which USA is a strong supporter of. Surely we cannot let down Ms. Rice. I am surprised that Ms. Rice has not commented on the issue of Anwar trying to get BN MPs to join Pakatan Rakyat just for him to be Prime Minister. Mind you, no one voted Anwar in yet.

And hell. Since Malaysia is in between Thailand and Indonesia, they wanna turn this place to be part Indonesia too. Fuel price. Yes, Anwar wants cheaper fuel. Indonesia has cheap fuel too. But anyone wants this place to be like Indonesia? A show of hands please... Oh. I didn't think so. So, why on earth is Anwar yelling for cheaper petrol?

It hurts me too, but I would love to see petrol at market price of about RM 3.50 per litre. A little hurt is good. Look, there's less traffic. Even the Mat Rempits are slowing down. That's the good news. People think before driving from KL to Penang just for nasi kandar. There's saving. Leaders should lead others to spend wisely, not have cheap petrol and burn a heck a lot of it for no reason. I've noticed there are less cars speeding nowadays. Roads could be safer.

I don't hear Anwar asking for better public transport. No. Oh, the poor will suffer. Yea yea. This is the part I cannot understand... he was the Finance Minister. Surely he knew a thing or who. First question... who's the poor people? Really? Who do you think is poor? Fisherman? The padii farmer? The oldman in the kampung with oil palm? Who on earth would the poor be? Let me see if I get this litle piece of economic theory right. Price of fish went up. Surely the fishermen cannot be poor. Price of rice doubled last year, so surely the farmers can't be poor. Let's not get started on the prices of vegetables. Up too. Palm oil - up up up. So, who exactly is poor?

So, they remain poor. Why? There is a price ceiling on rice. And on cooking oil. And bad distribution - aka - middlemen. So, instead of solving the crux of the matter, the opposition holds concerts for cheaper fuel. They should be asking for no subsidy, no price ceilings and of course, no tax. There is still heavy tax on cars and vehicles. Think about it. Let's say there's no tax on cars and a Toyota Vios becomes RM 40,000 while a Proton becomes RM 20,000. But petrol is at a hefty RM 3.50. But think... with a cheaper car, might the fishermen be able to afford transport? Buys a car, pays heck a lot more for petrol - but for once, he can transport his fishes out for sale. No need for the middle-man. He makes more money. Would he still be poor? I don't think so. But alas, no... Anwar wants cheap fuel. It's just "burn baby, burn." Lack of policy.

Some say ... but not everyone has land for farming. Not everyone is a fisherman. True. Look at it now. It pays badly to be farming or fishing. Everyone wants to be a graduate. Universities are full. Bad graduates being churned out day and night. Ends up with pay less than RM 1800 per month. How to survive? True. But what happens if life in the kampong is better? What if they earn a lot more being a fishermen? Or a farmer? With better pay, youth might just do other work - rather than be a overrated graduate.

The key is really getting rid of all the subsidies, the ceiling prices and taxes. Income tax can stay, but excise duties on cars and other vehicles can go. This will give rise to a more efficient economy. And speaking of efficiency - why not rate cars? Have a standards body which rates cars on efficiency. Do the same for white goods (washing machines, fridges).

Do you all seriously think foreign cars are better than Protons? Think again. Here's why. There is no rating system in Malaysia. Image is everything. So, for the versions that they sell in Malaysia - it will be watered down. It would be less safe, less efficient and less costly to manufacture. There is no incentive for them to do better. Don't believe me? Go to Thailand. Look at the Altis there. They are just cabs with a black interior, plastic look. Cheap. Ugly. Just like our Protons. But in Malaysia, Altis is a bit better. Now, you wanna check out Toyota cars in USA? Bet you the Toyota in USA is better but still cheaper than their counterparts in Malaysia! In short, the government has allowed multi-national companies to bugger the rakyat. Oopppsss.