IT is not surprising that the advice (on the RM50 credit card charge) comes from a representative of the government (and its agencies) that regularly overspend public funds for the “benefit” of the rakyat.

This has been regularly illustrated by the exposure of financial mismanagement and possible fraud as detailed in the auditor-general’s reports. Any average person can see the high prices being paid for computers and other procurements.

The more knowledgeable can see the high cost of construction projects and deals involving public lands for facilities that may be more to the disadvantage of the rakyat. The position of local authorities and other agencies appears to be no different as the leadership of these could be from people with the same culture of lack of prudent spending.

Further the most number of people to be adversely affected by the RM50 charge will be the lower-middle and lower-income rakyat. But this imposition is also standard practice to impose taxes on those who are in the lower-income category as those at the top normally enjoy minimal tax rate for perks and the capital gains that are free of income tax. The abolition of estate duty tax ensures that the billionaires and multi-millionaires pay zero tax.

The culture of “Do what I say and not what I do” and to benefit the rich is common in countries with capitalist economic systems. Comprehensive rules are there but rarely complied with.

Gursharan Singh
Kuala Lumpur

Source: The Sun – November 30, 2009