Summary

The Malaysian government is urged to take immediate and effective measures to manage its funds better, specifically by addressing corruption, reforming taxation, and implementing targeted subsidies to avoid wastage and improve the socioeconomic status of its citizens.

Abstract

The article emphasizes the critical need for the Malaysian government to address the longstanding issue of insufficient funds, which has been a barrier to implementing programs aimed at uplifting the socioeconomic status of its people, especially the poor. It suggests that the government must take serious measures such as cracking down on corruption, increasing taxation on the elite, and preventing unnecessary expenditure. The article, referencing the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM), proposes specific actions like expediting the implementation of targeted fuel and cooking oil subsidies through cash assistance programs and imposing a Certificate of Entitlement (COE) requirement for luxury cars, similar to Singapore's model. These measures are intended to ensure that the government has the necessary funds to fulfill its responsibility of taking care of its citizens and to prevent the misuse of subsidies.

Opinions

The government's frequent response of insufficient funds for social upliftment programs is deemed unacceptable and disappointing.
There is a strong emphasis on the government's primary responsibility to ensure adequate funds are available for the welfare of its people.
Corruption and subsidy leakages are highlighted as significant issues that need to be addressed with urgency.
The current fuel and cooking oil subsidy programs are seen as ineffective and prone to misuse, necessitating a shift towards targeted cash assistance.
The imposition of a COE for luxury cars is proposed as a means to generate additional revenue specifically from the wealthier segment of society.
The article calls for careful planning and public consultation in the implementation of the proposed measures to ensure their effectiveness and acceptance.
The government is called upon to become accountable and to urgently 'get its act together' to improve the socioeconomic conditions of average Malaysians.

Failing To Improve People’s Lives Due To A Lack Of Funds Is Utterly Unacceptable

For Far, Too Long Has The Lack Of Funds Plagued The Country

There have been so many times whereby when people request or urge the government to implement much-needed programs and reforms that can truly uplift the socioeconomic status of average citizens, especially the poor, almost always, the response given by the government is that they don’t have sufficient funds to do so.

Frankly, this is highly unacceptable and very disappointing, given that it’s the government’s highest responsibility to properly take of its people, thus ensuring that it always has the required amount of funds set aside for such purposes.

Serious Measures Must Be Taken Immediately

Given this longstanding issue of having insufficient funds, it’s high time the Malaysian government takes serious, immediate measures to better manage its available funds.

No doubt, the ultimate measures that must be taken are to strongly crack down on widespread, rampant corruption and to gradually as well as smartly increase taxation and impose stricter tax regulation towards the elite class in society.

Apart from this, however, there are also other important measures that the government must take in order to prevent any unnecessary expenditure as well as wastage and acquire more much-needed funds.

These measures, which have been put forward by the Malaysian Socialist Party (PSM), include:

Expediting The Implementation Of Targeted Fuel Subsidies

The government should expedite the implementation of targeted fuel subsidies, currently planned to take place next year, as announced by Ahmad Maslan, the Deputy Finance Minister, in a press article dated 19/5/23.

The subsidies should be provided through a monthly cash assistance program for the targeted groups, for which the government calculates the extra fuel costs that would be borne by these groups without the current subsidy program.

That extra amount is what the government needs to provide in this monthly cash assistance program.

The replacement of the current program with this cash assistance program needs to be very carefully planned and in consultation with the public before being executed.

2. Replace Cooking Oil Subsidies With A Monthly Cash Assistance Program For Targeted Groups

Photo by Max Avans: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-pouring-cooking-oil-in-a-pan-5056853/

In a press article, dated 19/6/23, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that there are far too many subsidy leakages, cooking oil in particular.

The problem with the current subsidy program is that there are many cases of misuse whereby unscrupulous businesses, after buying the subsidized cooking oil, sell it to neighbouring countries for profit.

These actions are hard to control, result in subsidy leakages, and thus defeat the main purpose of this program.

Therefore, similar to the above point, the government should instead implement a monthly cash assistance program for targeted groups. Again, this process needs to be very carefully planned and in consultation with the public before being executed.

3. Impose A COE Requirement For Luxury Cars

Similar to what is being practiced in Singapore, our government should make it a requirement for those who wish to purchase luxury cars to first purchase a Certificate Of Entitlement (COE) from the government. This particular measure is specifically another way for the government to gain more funds.

In Singapore, a COE is a piece of documentation that allows you to register and drive an automobile. This document is valid only for up to 10 years.

You’ll have to renew the COE if you want to drive your car for another decade. To register your car, you have to place a bid for a COE. Successful bidders will have to pay the final Quota Premium for the particular vehicle.

Our government should impose a similar system in Malaysia and target it only towards those who want to purchase luxury cars. This measure would certainly enable the government to acquire much-needed funds from the sales of these COEs.

The Onus Is On The Government To Get It’s Act Together

In conclusion, the government’s failure to improve people’s lives due to a lack of funds is completely unacceptable.

This issue of having insufficient funds has plagued the country and its people for far too long and it’s well past time the government gets its act together and becomes accountable.

It’s completely unfair and wrong that average Malaysians should continue to live under the current, dire socioeconomic conditions.

Therefore, the government must urgently take smart, effective measures such as the above in order to reduce fund wastage as well as gain more funds to spend towards significantly improving people’s lives.

Originally published at http://reformthesystem0.wordpress.com.

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