PM announces 11 measures to slash public sector spending

PM announces 11 measures to slash public sector spending

PETALING JAYA: The Government has announced 11 cost-cutting measures for the public sector in line with its intention to practice more prudent spending in 2014.

The Prime Minister in a statement Monday said the decision to undertake the measures was made after discussions with his deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and the Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Ali Hamsa.

“Other savings measures for the public sector will be announced from time to time based on needs and the current situation,” Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in the statement.

The measures include cutting the entertainment allowances of Minister and Deputy Ministers by 10%; requiring all government ministries, agencies and premises to cut their electricity bills by 5%; cutting the toll payment facilities for senior government officers by 30%; and reducing the use of event management companies and door gifts for conventions and government functions involving public servants.

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In the coming years, the people will feel the pinch as expenses and cost of living increases. I foresee that jobs will be hard to come by, salaries, bonuses and perks will shrink as businesses have to contend with rising costs. In other words, the people will be angry.

What the PM has announced so far will not make any impact in terms of cost savings. But it will be seen as an act of empathy.Hopefully, he has plans to implement measures that will actually address the problems.

The people will be watching very, very closely on the actions of the government, both state & federal, in the years to come. These days, it is no longer possible to hide behind official reasons or excuses. This should be applied to the State level as well. Pakatan Rakyat supporters should keep a close eye on the doings of the Pakatan ADUNs & MPs. They are just as fallible. Some of them were ex-BN, mind you.

We should not be distracted by rhetorical issues. Focus on real, tangible issues. Issues that have a direct impact in our lives. Don't let the politicians make use of you to fulfill their agendas.

Instead of them asking us what we can do for the country, from now onwards, WE should be asking them what they can deliver/do for us, the people. Why must the people let themselves to be led by the nose?

1. THE PEOPLE should be setting the benchmark for THEM!

2. THE PEOPLE should set THEIR agendas.

3. THE PEOPLE should demand TANGIBLE results from THEM.

4. THE PEOPLE should not let themselves be USED.

5. THE PEOPLE should be proactive, not wait for THEM to get things done.

Lets get back to basics, shall we. A few examples:

Rising Prices
There is actually nothing much that can be done. The only way to reduce prices is through subsidies. But since everyone supports the removal of subsidies, (which I don't agree fully), increase minimum wages, then you have to accept rising costs. You have a choice. Either you cut your expenses, or you work harder to earn more. Back in the days, it is common for people to hold 2 or more jobs or side business for extra income, and are prudent with their spending. These days, workers demand high pay, short working hours, long vacations and even longer loans to enjoy first world lifestyle. Well, like they say, there's a price for everything.

Education
Everyone gripes about our lousy education system, but the more they meddle with it, the worse it gets. Since we know it will be ages before we see any improvements, if any, it's about time parents themselves take on the responsibility. Which should be the way in the first place. Why are educated parents outsourcing their responsibilities to others in the first place? The basic role of parents are to provide food, shelter, and guidance for their children. Impart values and ethics and the skill to seek knowledge, so that they will grow up to be independent and responsible adults. When your kids grow up to be undisciplined spoilt brats, it's your fault.

Medical Care
Medical care is getting out of reach for many people. Why are the people not concerned about this? They are so preoccupied with freedom of speech, democracy, corruption, and a host of other issues, while totally oblivious to those that have a direct impact on their well-being. The truth is, globally, people cannot afford to get sick. Getting sick is expensive. But the people have forgotten that affordable medical care is a basic human right. As you get older, this will be your major concern. So, wouldn't it be better if the people ensure that the government provides this to all?

Housing
It is obvious that housing is getting out of reach for the average population. If nothing is done, our future generations will be homeless. There must be a system in place to address this problem. Governments cannot put the responsibility on the developers. Housing developers are businesses. The responsibility rests with the government. In Penang & Selangor, for example, prices are skyrocketing. The developers are building expensive houses that give them higher profits.

Common Sense
Humans are driven by the herd mentality. It's human nature. It is the number one force that drives politics, stock markets, or any type of speculation, and even public rallies & protests. Why? Because humans react differently in different situations. That is why politicians like to put the people in a state of panic. When human are in panic, their brains reacts accordingly. They will follow the herd and do what they are told. Common sense and critical thinking shuts down.

That is how people are made to do terrible things to other people. For every kind of conflict, wars, killings, clashes, involving large groups of people, the participants are always in a state of panic, hysteric even. The way soldiers are trained reaffirms this concept. They are trained not to think, and only to obey orders. Which is why, when these soldiers return after their missions, many require counseling, suffering from guilt and depression.

So as the New Year is just around the corner, I would like to wish all A Happy New Year!

And my new year wish for Malaysians is to take a step back, calm your minds and see things as they really are. Not what you think they ought to be. Choose the middle way.

Water crisis imminent in Klang Valley

SHORTAGE: Six million to face problem 

KUALA LUMPUR: WITH water reserves at an all-time low, water disruption is imminent for nearly six million consumers in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) yesterday warned that with low water reserves in almost all of its 34 treatment plants -- they stand at less than one per cent rather than the required 10 per cent -- consumers from Kuala Lumpur, Petaling, Klang, Gombak and Hulu Langat can experience water shortage at any moment.

"The current water reserves in the treatment plants are at their all-time low, leading to the possibility of huge-scale water disruptions.

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2013

PM vows to solve water shortage in Klang Valley

GIVE US MANDATE: Opposition-led Selangor govt rapped for not giving development order to build Langat 2 plant

SEMENYIH: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak promised yesterday that Barisan Nasional would solve the water shortage issue   in the Klang Valley, if the party is given the mandate to rule Selangor.

He hit out at the opposition for pointing fingers at Syabas and BN instead of solving the water shortage problem....


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2012

What has water crisis got to do with Langat 2 - S'gor wallops back at BN govt

The state government, through the Selangor Water Management Authority (LUAS), controls the state's seven dams, and water levels were between 92% and 100% as of July 2.

"We only control the raw water in the state and there is more than enough, which means Syabas should be answering why it does not have enough treatment plants to provide clean water to the people, and why there is talk of water rationing today," he said.

Jayakumar further claimed it was irresponsible of Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin and Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Noh Omar to suggest that the state allow Langat 2 to be built first and discuss water tariff hikes later.

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Selangor may hold 'water' referendum

PUTRAJAYA: THE Selangor government is going ahead with its planned takeover of the water operations from concessionaire Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd,  state executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar said yesterday.

He proposed a "referendum of the people", where the people of Selangor would decide.....

...Jayakumar said the state government had requested RM225 million from the Federal Government to carry out water mitigation projects through the State Economic Planning Unit, but the approval was still pending...

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Water in Selangor: A Crisis of Corruption and Cronyism

The Selangor government is all for preventing this RM8.65 billion gravy train from riding out, and its position is simple: there is plenty of water in Selangor, and if there is any shortage at all, it is due to failure, or worse, failure on the part of Syabas.

Here’s what Syabas doesn’t want you to know about this water “crisis”: it’s not about how much raw water there is (since the dams in Selangor are all clearly full); it’s about how Syabas is failing dramatically to efficiently convert enough of that raw water into potable water.

Syabas’ level of NRW is 32 percent. This means that a whopping one-third of the raw water that enters a Syabas water treatment plant goes entirely to waste.

While Syabas is dead set on exponential increases of up to 75 percent on water tariffs, Selangor has pledged to cap any tariff increases to 12 percent....


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2010

Keeping the taps in Klang Valley flowing

At least twice in the last two weeks, residents of Selangor and Kuala Lumpur were warned that they faced the grim prospects of water rationing by 2014 unless the impasse between the Federal and Selangor state governments was not solved.

Central to the issue is the planned Langat 2 water treatment plant, a project that has been delayed as the two parties haggle over issues that can be considered trivial compared with the great inconvenience residents could face when their taps run dry.

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2009

Conserve water from now, Klang Valley folk warned

PETALING JAYA: Water rationing could start next month for Klang Valley residents if they do not conserve water from now.

Drainage and Irrigation Depart-ment hydrology and water resources director Datuk Lim Chow Hock said water shortage would be more critical in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur due to the dense population....

...In the Klang Valley, the Sungai Langat, Klang Gates and Batu dams were at full capacity, while the Tasik Subang dam was at 87% yesterday.

Puncak Niaga forecasts that the dams would have enough water for 161 days or 5.4 months even if the dry spell continued...

Federal govt sabotages Selangor

THE Selangor state government made an offer on 13 Feb 2009 to four privatised water service providers — Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB), Syabas, SPLASH and Abass — to acquire their water assets and concessions.

The combined RM5.71 billion offered was made with the objective of delivering the lowest possible water tariffs for Selangor and Kuala Lumpur residents. At the same time, the offer was consistent with, and guided by, the terms and conditions specified in the concession agreements signed willingly by all parties involved....

...If, however, the ministry offers the concessionaires a much higher cash value for its assets as well as lucrative licence terms for them to continue as the water operators in the state, the minister must explain why he is forsaking the rights and interest of the 7.3 million Selangor and Kuala Lumpur population.....

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This water crisis issue surfaced since 2008 and continues until today. Everyone seems to be pointing fingers at each other while the people have suffer supply disruptions and poor quality of water. Almost every household have a water filter installed, some more than one.

Privatised Water Service Providers:
Puncak Niaga Sdn Bhd (PNSB),
Syabas,
SPLASH
Abass

Others involved:
Federal Government
Selangor Government

Going by news reports, there's one common factor through the years, the Langat 2 treatment plant. The cost is said to be in the billions. Beneath all the noise:- about Selangor offering to buy up the water assets but water service providers asking for high price, federal government going ahead with the plant, water tariff increase, water crisis, water rationing, not to mention the poor quality of water supplied, numerous warnings through the years... it all boils down to money and politics.

It's the same thing happening over and over again with privatisation, like electricity, sewerage treatment, postal services, roads and highways, airlines, and now water. What happens in the end? After privatisation, the rates and prices always increases. The consumer pays. When these companies lose money, the taxpayer pays. There's only one party that gains, the service providers. They profit.

1. Is the Langat 2 plant the solution? If it is, then Selangor State Government should work work out a solution with the parties involved. If it is not the solution, then why is the Federal government insisting on building it? What are the alternatives? Is there really a crisis looming?

2. These water service providers, as I understand, are supposed to supply treated water to the consumers. Aren't they supposed to ensure that their facilities are doing it's job? They are charging consumers for water. What are the terms of their services? Isn't it their responsibility to ensure that their facilities are capable to deliver the required supply to the consumers?

3. Whenever there's a water shortage, it always blamed on other things such as low rainfall, dry weather, low water level at the dams, leaking pipes, wastage by consumer, shortage or breakdown of equipment, and whatnots.

Finally, must everything be politicised?