AMID uncertainties that currently engulf Malaysia’s economy, it is only appropriate that the unity government “be truthful and honest” while the citizens should do their part by refraining from harbouring “unreasonable expectations”.
Veteran journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin who made such appeal further observed how “commoners who don’t get paid by the government are disgusted with civil servants, especially CUEPACS (Congress of Unions of Employees in the Public and Civil Services) who are endlessly demanding a salary increase”.
“It has become like a person asking for alms,” he penned in a recent Facebook post.
“Other people also go through hard time and they pay taxes, too. Every penny of their tax money is spent to pay the salaries and pensions of civil servants which include the Prime Minister (PM), Cabinet ministers and MPs who are lazy to turn up in the Parliament.”
Under such circumstances, Kadir stressed the need for the government to be “transparent and not to resort to amend financial allocations or statistics at will to make them look beautiful”.
“If you settle a debt or redeem a bond, just say pay the debt. Don’t hide under other headings, for example, development (cost). Or alter the allocation for services and supplies to emoluments (salaries). Although the allocation amount remains the same, its purpose has changed,” cautioned the national journalism laureate.
“If you have to raise your salary, kindly find another way. After all, at times when commoners are in dire straits, the government should not spend taxpayers’ money as it pleases.”
In essence, Kadir also urged the unity government to abstain from “creative accounting” at all costs for “this is an act of self-deception”.
“(Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim’s 11-month tenure as PM and Finance Minister is sufficient for us to make a random assessment of his performance,” contended the former editor-in-chief of mainstream New Straits Times who was a business/financial journalist during his heydays.
“Next month will be a year since he held the No. 1 position in the national administration.” – Nov 6, 2023
Main pic credit: Malaysianews TV
