BN Government should not mislead the public that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from January to September 2007 has risen by only 2% when in reality it has risen by 20%!
___________________
Press Statement
by Lim Guan Eng
________________________
(Petaling Jaya,
Sunday):
BN Government should not
mislead the public that the
CPI from January to September
2007 has risen by only 2%
when in reality it has risen
by 20%. In actual fact in the
last four months alone,
prices of basic food-stuffs
have risen by around 10%: such
as rice (5-8%), chilli sauce
(5-10%), beehoon (5-10%),
biscuits (10-15%), chocolate
malt drinks (10-18%), UHT
milk (10-15%) and milk powder
(10-20%). Many Malaysians
have been complaining that
everything from toll rates to
instant noodles have been
going up except their
salaries.
However the government has
been in a state of denial at
the adverse impact of food
prices on working families.
The government continues to
pretend that rising fuel
prices with the international
oil price hitting a record
US$ 96 per barrel and rising
commodities prices world-wide
has not affected prices in
Malaysia. This dangerous
pre-occupation with denial is
irresponsible and
unprofessional management of
our economy that will only
cause suffering to low and
middle income working
families.
Only a CPI that is accurate
and gives a reliable “virtual
reality” of the escalating
prices of basic commodities
throughout the country can
give confidence that the
government knows how to
manage the economy
responsibly for the benefit
of the people. Clearly such
false and misleading picture
of a CPI of only 2% when the
reality is ten times worse
shows the extent of dirty
tactics employed by BN in the
run-up to the general
elections to win at all
costs, by hook or by crook.
Even the English daily “The
Star” in today’s front-page
report, cited 20% increase in
CPI from January to September
2007 as a more accurate
reflection of the true
situation on the ground than
the government’s official 2%.
It said, “Bread now costs 20
to 30 cent more per loaf, and
toll charges may be raised
again next year. All over the
country, Malaysians are
paying more for popular local
fare like char kuay teow and
roti canai.”
DAP calls for complete
reviews of the CPI to reflect
reality and not give a false
picture that Malaysians are
still maintaining their
standard of living. The time
has come for Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Datuk Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi to wake up and
deal with escalating
inflation and how to help
Malaysians maintain standard
of living. As most firms are
also struggling with rising
prices, forcing companies to
raise salaries beyond their
capabilities or labour market
forces of demand and supply
would not be fair. A fairer
method would be to share
Petronas oil profits with
Malaysians.
RM 6, 000 annual bonuses
for all working Malaysians
and senior citizens with
incomes of less than RM6, 000
monthly
There is grave concern that
with the expected increase in
fuel prices and toll rates in
the North-South Highway next
year, the situation will only
get worse for working
families. Further the
government has indicated that
it can no longer provide
subsidies especially fuel
subsidies alone that cost RM
27 billion.
Whilst it may be economically
unrealistic to expect any
government to perpetually
subsidize petroleum and gas
without limit, it is socially
unrealistic to expect the
poor to survive without any
assistance once the subsidies
are removed. What is
economically justifiable can
not be socially justifiable
if the poor are not given any
financial assistance to
counter inflationary impact
from removal of gas
subsidies.
DAP reiterates its proposal
that the government gives an
annual RM 6,000 Malaysian
First Bonus to all working
families and senior citizens
who earn less than RM 6,000 a
month which would enable all
Malaysians to deal with
rising food prices and
inflation at the most
efficient level. After all,
if Singapore can give poor
working families a yearly sum
of S$ 2,500, why can’t
Malaysia do the same with our
oil resources and revenues
that earned Petronas RM 76.3
billion last year?
(4/11/2007)
* Lim Guan
Eng,
Secretary-General of DAP |