Wednesday, July 9, 2025

CARNAVAL MASKS IN RIO

 
I received this today. It is signed Badrul Hisham
I have adapted it. Rule No 1 No Names. 
It is the times we live in.
 

THE LEADER WHO LEFT FOR RIO WHILE HIS PARTY BECAME A GHOST TOWN

A Reflection on the Rise and Fall of Riforma in a Cup of Stale Kopi Tarik



I. WHEN IN RIO, PRETEND YOUR KITCHEN ISN’T ON FIRE

Let us begin, as most tragedies do, with a postcard.

Somewhere in Rio, a man once hailed as the voice of the oppressed is sipping something weird in a €600 suit while listening to a translator explain BRICS policy frameworks. Meanwhile, back home, his party is vanishing faster than cold cendol under the midday sun. Once a rallying cry for the reform-hungry rakyat, his party is now best described as an “ongoing rumour with legacy stationery.”

More than 200 twigs (branches?) have either resigned, dissolved, or spontaneously evaporated into the WhatsApp ether. The remaining ones appear to be operating out of nostalgia and group photos from 2008.

We are told this is not a collapse. It is, apparently, a realignment of aspirations. And if you believe that, you probably also believe your neighbour’s cat can be a senator.



II. VOTER APATHY OR MASS NAP SYNDROME?

Let’s examine the numbers, shall we?

30,000 members were eligible to vote in the deputy president showdown between (Daughter of Destiny) and Okonomi (Spreadsheet Casanova). But only 14,000 showed up. That’s not democracy — that’s an RSVP to a forgotten birthday party.

It’s not even boycott. It’s indifference. And indifference, my dear reader, is not the opposite of love. It is the absence of belief.

Which is worse.



III. THE LONG ROAD TO POWER (WHICH ENDED OVER A CLIFF) 

Once upon a monsoon, Homo Sapien stood shirt-sleeved in the rain, fists clenched, shouting “RIFORMA!” into the collective ache of a nation. People believed. Not just in his message, but in his martyrdom. He was the human symbol of resistance: jailed, betrayed, resurrected.

Then, he became leader — through the behest of a 'Constitutional', in a musical chairs coalition arranged by decree. It was his grand Crescendo. Twenty-seven years of struggle, climaxing in one solemn oath and a photo op.

And what did the man who promised to fight corruption do as one of his first acts?

He made DNAA-man, who had enough charges to host a courtroom musical, his deputy. 



IV. THE RENAISSANCE THAT NEVER CAME

We were promised a Renaissance.

What we got was a badly rehearsed school play about Renaissance values performed on a floating stage in Paya Lintah with a malfunctioning smoke machine.

The Hakim-ery is now a whisper of what it once was. Corrupt politicians are receiving DNAA faster than we get our Shopee parcels. Cronies — the exact species Riforma once sought to exterminate — are thriving like mushrooms after rain, enjoying plush seats on GLC boards and gentle pats on the back.

Reform? No, thank you. We’re on a Madinah diet now. All slogans, no substance.



V. OKONOMI'S EXIT INTERVIEW AND OTHER POLITICAL TUMBLES

Okonomi and one other resigning was less a resignation and more a slow clap in the face of political theatre. Okonomi, the man who could memorise inflation data for a history quiz, has now become the ghost of better policy.

And the Princess of Riforma, she is currently performing interpretive dances on indigenous rights in Sarawak, while her political living room catches fire. Her father is busy jetting between continents, but the kettle in the kitchen has boiled dry. Next the kitchen will catch fire.



VI. THE ODD SILENCE OF UNMO (ALSO: WHERE ARE THEY?)

UNMO, the ghost of regimes past, now stares blankly at the nation like a man who arrived late to his own funeral. Once roaring with populist thunder, now they mumble nothing as SST rises, subsidies vanish, and petrol prices make Grab drivers cry in lowercase.

They know the ship is sinking. They are praying the captain drowns first.



VII. TIKTOK DIKTATORSHIP AND NASI LEMAK ECONOMICS

Makcik Siti’s nasi lemak costs RM8.30 now. She blames “Madinah”.

On TikTok, Gen Z is remixing Homo Sapien's speeches into sad clown music. In pasar malam stalls, “Homo Sapien” is a punchline. “Riforma” has been reclaimed by students, not in support but in satire. The very cry that once rallied a movement has now been reduced to a meme.

“Homo Sapien” no longer inspires reverence. It triggers price comparisons, gasps over utility bills, and bitter WhatsApp chain messages from uncles who never studied economics but now feel qualified to conduct monetary policy.



VIII. THE BETRAYAL OF BELIEF

This isn’t just a leadership failure.

It’s the betrayal of belief. The quiet unraveling of an emotional contract. The supporters did not expect miracles. They expected moral compass. Instead, they got roadshows and tax hikes. They wanted a non-Homo Sapien; they got a mediocre Homo Sapien with frequent flyer miles.

Hope is not infinite. It is fragile. And when squandered, it does not return as easily as it was given.



IX. WHEN THE RAIN COMES

And so, the storm is coming.

Not the type that arrives with loud thunder and visible lightning, but the slow, punishing drizzle that warps wood and ruins foundations. When the next election comes, it won’t be with fireworks but with silences at the ballot box. Volunteers won’t come. Posters won’t be printed. Makciks won’t answer the call to ceramah. Riforma, like a vinyl record played too many times, will skip.

And those who stood silent in sunshine?

They should not expect umbrellas when the rain begins.



X. EPILOGUE: CARNAVAL MASKS IN RIO

If you look closely, you’ll find that carnival masks are beautiful because they hide disappointment with art. Behind the glitter, nothing is real. Just papier-mâché, glue, and theatre.

Kind of like what’s happening now.

A leader far from home. A party crumbling like overbaked biskut raya. A movement that mistook itself for a destiny.

And the people?

They are watching.

They always have been.

Adapted from Badrul Hisham

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

BUKAN SAJA KALAH TERUK TAPI PAPA DAN DAUGHTER AKAN HILANG DEPOSIT

 

PKR AKAN KALAH TERUK KATA RAFIZI

 

Klik di sini:    https://youtu.be/oODVszcKFbQ?si=_uoYN7TbQI8hN7ds

 

My Comments:

Sorry bagi awak lah tapi perbincangan ini sangat low quality, tak ada intellectual content. Tak ada formuler apa pun.

The tukang tanya soalan cakap pasal rumah kena aman dulu or something like that. Ok brader - saya ada soalan hypothetical - kalau lah dalam rumah itu ada orang liw@t bunt*t lelaki lain - rumah itu boleh aman ke atau jadi kecoh?

The correct answer is kecoh lah. Rumah jadi kecoh. Bila kecoh pula, si peliw@t itu (hypothetical only ok) buat lakonan psycho dan aneh untuk tutup cerita @$$hole dia itu. 

Dia suruh tangkap mangsa dia, dia buat dakwaan tak senonoh, bila tok penghulu kawasan tak setuju salahguna kuasa, tok penghulu pula ditukar ke kawasan lain. Dia ambil anak dia pula jadi tok penghulu baru yang lebih user friendly. Semua ini hypothetical saja tapi kampong itu akan kecoh lah, kalau orang pentingkan 'kestabilan' walaupun berlaku pelbagai perbuatan luar tabii dalam rumah itu.  Mereka gunakan 'kestabilan' sebagai camouflage untuk kelakuan tak senonoh.

Macam G_SB lah. Rasa-rasa G_SB bukan aman ke? Tempat itu memang sunyi tapi depa pecah bunt*t semua orang. 

At the end of the day, kalau lah bunt*t orang tak jadi pecah, most likely rumah pun stabil. Jangan confuse antara putting the cart before the horse (kuda di belakang kereta) and putting the horse before the cart (kuda di depan kereta). 

Walaupun perbincangan ini berkenaan parti dan masa depan parti tapi parti tidak boleh dipisahkan daripada satu perkara yang sangat-sangat besar : PENGUNDI. Atau rakyat atau penduduk negara. 

As a political party, memang siang dan malam perjuangan dia 150% mestilah untuk memperjuangkan hak rakyat. 

Contohnya di UK sekarang berlaku pergolakan politik yang sangat kritikal. Conservatives yang baru kalah (Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson, Lizz Truss). Di ganti oleh Labour Party di bawah Keir Starmer. Keir Starmer pula begitu bermasalah dengan hubungan seks luar tabii dengan beberapa lelaki Ukraine, masalah isteri dia dsbnya. Dan kemunculan Nigel Farage Reform Party sebagai pencabar No 1 dalam politik UK. 

Yang mereka semua bincang hari-hari adalah dasar parti masing-masing yang bakal menguntungkan pengundi dan rakyat UK. Conservative bentangkan dasar dia, Labour akan kritik. Labour akan bentangkan dasar dia pula yang lebih menguntungkan rakyat. Reform akan kritik. Media, para intelek, pemerhati semuanya akan bincangkan dasar kesemua parti politik. Maka orang yang mendengar pun akan menjadi better informed dan masyarakat jadi lebih matang atau mature sebab boleh faham isu-isu negara yang penting.

Tapi dalam perbincangan ini pula yang saya dengar: PKR akan hiruk pikuk, kesan pada PH, soalan hipotesis - katakan ROS batalkan pemilihan bla bla.  Itu saja. Buang masa.

Not a single word about isu-isu negara. Yang menjadi panas sekarang adalah isu tariff oleh Amerika Syarikat. Tariff Amerika itu akan memberi kesan yang besar juga kepada ekonomi negara kita. Tapi tak ada sepatah perbincangan pun berkenaan tariff Amerika Syarikat.  

Ataupun mereka kurang faham apa benda itu tariff dan apa kena mengena dengan politik apa pun. 

Inilah low standard politik negara kita dan juga perbincangan politik dalam negara kita. Isu besar yang membawa kesan besar kepada rakyat diremehkan dan isu yang remeh-temeh dibesarkan.  Apa pula nak hairan akan kalah teruk?   

TUESDAY LITE: VIDEO LAKONAN AI SAJA. KATEGORI "HARI INI SAYA MENANG ESOK HARGA TAIK KUCING TURUN"

 

 

 https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2q6cArAfpnc

I TOLD YOU SO. THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. TARIFF IS 25%, AN INCREASE OF 1%.

 

If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States and eliminate your Tariff and Non Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers we will perhaps consider an adjustment to this letter.  


We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Malaysia, and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Malaysia’s Tariff and Non Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. 

 

Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Malaysia’s Tariff and Non Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States.  

- Donald J Trump

 

 

 

 

 

Well folks, President Donald Trump has written a letter to us. Here is Trump's letter, slightly adapted. 

the United States of America has agreed to continue working with Malaysia, despite having a significant Trade Deficit with your great Country. 

we have decided to move forward with you, but only with more balanced, and fair, TRADE. 

Therefore, we invite you to participate in the extraordinary Economy of the United States, the Number One Market in the World, by far. 

We have had years to discuss our Trading Relationship with Malaysia, and have concluded that we must move away from these longterm, and very persistent, Trade Deficits engendered by Malaysia’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers. Our relationship has been, unfortunately, far from Reciprocal. 

Starting Aug 1, 2025, we will charge a Tariff of only 25% on any and all Malaysian products sent into the United States, separate from all Sectoral Tariffs. Goods transshipped to evade a higher Tariff will be subject to that higher Tariff.  Please understand that the 25% number is far less than what is needed to eliminate the Trade Deficit disparity we have with your Country. 

As you are aware, there will be no Tariff if Malaysia, or companies within your Country, decide to build or manufacture product within the United States and, in fact, we will do everything possible to get approvals quickly, professionally, and routinely — In other words, in a matter of weeks.

If for any reason you decide to raise your Tariffs, then, whatever the number you choose to raise them by, will be added onto the 25% that we charge. 

Please understand that these Tariffs are necessary to correct the many years of Malaysia’s Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, causing these unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States. This Deficit is a major threat to our Economy and, indeed, our National Security!

If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States, and eliminate your Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers, we will, perhaps, consider an adjustment to this letter. These Tariffs may be modified, upward or downward, depending on our relationship with your Country. You will never be disappointed with The United States of America.

Thank you for your attention to this matter!

With best wishes, I am,
Sincerely,

DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA


MY COMMENTS: TUAN-TUAN I TOLD YOU SO. THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING. TARIFF INCREASED BY 1% TO 25%. 

 

From April until now they did not achieve anything with the United States.  Donald Trump says,   If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States and eliminate your Tariff and Non Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers we will perhaps consider an adjustment to this letter

 

This is is referring to the many, many, many non-tariff barriers like the APs, the highly restricted monopoly import licenses (for example rice imports), the quota restricted industries, the license restricted oligopolies and then the tariff barriers like the more than 100% duties, levies, excises etc on imported motor vehicles etc. 

Trump says "if you eliminate your tariff and non tariff barriers" then the United States will also consider an adjustment to their tariffs.

Tuan-Tuan this will kick in beginning August 1st. But believe me the negative effects of these tariffs start TODAY.

Yesterday I was researching Malaysian exports to the US. There are many, many exports. For example we export specially manufactured wooden floorboards which are used to make those huge American trailer trucks (the Americans call them 18 wheeler semis, picture below). 


Now those wooden floorboards will be subject to a 25% US tariff. For every US$1000 of product they will now have to pay US$1250. Its that simple.

So now, compared to Malaysia, other countries which make wooden floorboards for 18 wheeler semi trucks who suffer less US tariff will get more orders from the US. Plus also domestic American manufacturers who can deliver for under US$1250 equivalent will get more orders. Say an American manufacturer can deliver floorboards for US$1150 of product equivalent will get more orders than a Malaysian exporter who now must sell at US$1250. 

Meaning the American orders for 18 wheeler truck hardwood floorboards from Malaysia will take a hit. Now multiply this across the thousands of products exported from Malaysia to the United States. Our economy will get hit.

Now here is where this analysis gets interesting. 

So when will all this kick in? It starts today. Malaysian exporters will already see a cancellation or reduction of their export orders to the United States. Especially manufacturing companies who export to the US will be hit. The stock market will possibly remain sideways.

Here is today's KL Stock Exchange. Sudah pengsan. Market has fallen 7 points by 12 PM.

 


Now who are the people who are not really worried?  

1.  The super rich elites who control import licenses and permits, who control APs, monopoly import licenses, oligopoly licensed businesses, the kartel daging types etc  do not have much to worry about.  Their yachts, private jets, houses in London, luxury cars, Mercedes and Rolls Royces will not be affected as much.  Why? Because what Donald Trump says "If you wish to open your heretofore closed Trading Markets to the United States, and eliminate your Tariff and Non Tariff Policies and Trade Barriers, we will, perhaps, consider"  is just not going to happen.

 

2. So now we come to the soalan bodoh: 

  • Who are the  people who will suffer most? 
  • Or who will pay most? 
  • Or will continue to pay more? 
  • Every morning when they wake up they will still be pokai 
  • - not enough money in the pocket. 
  • The answer is, Jeng Jeng Jeng: YOU !!
  • YOU will continue to pay more. 

 


 

3.   What about the politicians? Are the politicians worried? It depends on whether they are Malay or non-Malay politicians.  It depends on whether they depend on the Malay votes or non-Malay votes.  If they are from Kedai Lalat or Kampong Seluar Terbakar (these are real places) you can guess their voter profile.

Are Malays involved in exporting much to the US market? Is there any Malay manufacturer of engineered floorboards for semi trucks  exporting to the US market? Your guess is as good as mine. 

But plenty of Chinese are involved in the manufacturing and export industries. So which voter is more important for which politician?

4. What about factory workers? What if US export orders dry up and Malaysian factories start closing down? Who will lose their jobs first? Well there are thousands upon thousands of Bangla factory workers.  The Banglas will lose their jobs first. Banglas are not voters. Not yet.

5. The largest importers of motor vehicles in the country are the GLC owned companies. The biggest government linked trust fund in the country pays its 4.5% annual dividend from selling imported cars at the super inflated prices.  If we listen to Donald Trump and cut our import tariffs, then car prices will drop and these foreign car importers will end up making less profits. That 4.5% annual dividend can be adversely affected. Nanti malu lah kalau dividen jatuh lagi. It can become a political embarrasment.  So they are safe - for the moment. Car prices will remain as they are.

Donald Trump is saying 'Let us both cut our tariffs. Lets engage in free and open trade'.  Dulu-dulu Hadi Awang's ancestors pun pakai cawat. At that time we may have needed the tariffs and closed markets. But I do not agree with that. We do not need them anymore. Tariffs, permits, licenses, APs, quotas only increases the cost of living for the people. And makes the rich richer.

  • Lets say the Majlis Daerah Tanjong Malam has a weekly pasar malam. 
  • Traders from Tanjong Malam are allowed to trade normally. 
  • ALL other traders from outside Tanjong Malam must pay a special tariff of 25% to the Majlis Daerah. 
  • It means instead of RM10 per kilo of rambutan, they must now sell at RM12.50 per kilo. 
  • But their rambutan is good quality so it can still sell. 
  • Then the other Tanjong Malam traders will also increase their selling price from RM10 per kilo to say RM11 per kilo. Still can sell. 
  • If their rambutan is of slightly better quality they will sell it at RM12 per kilo. Still can sell. 
  • So the price of all rambutans will go up. 
  • WHY? Because of that 25% tariff by the Majlis Daerah. 

Who will end up paying more?

 

Cameron Highlands Bermasalah: Jebat Derhaka Kata "Kerajaan Bangang. Mat Sabu kenyang tidoooo.."

 

 

Dalam video ini sdra Jebat Derhaka berbincang pasal masalah baru yang menimpa Cameron Highlands. Oleh kerana begitu banyak sayur diimpot dari luar negara (dari negeri Cina) maka harga pasaran bagi pelbagai sayur-sayuran Cameron Highlands makin menurun - kata Jebat. Ini video dia:

https://youtu.be/eHTJuHU1yLg?si=F0t4XPFuOl07reDp 

(Di sini saya telah tanya Menteri Barang Dapur di rumah saya yang kata harga sayur-an di pasar, kedai Minang dan supermarket di kawasan kami kurang lebih banyak itu juga. Tidak menurun sangat pun.  Yang saya boleh confirm sendiri ialah harga buah2an impot memang sudah menurun - dengan drastik juga. Harga rambutan impot, manggis impot, buah mangga, buah anggur impot sudah menurun atau sama. Epal dan oren kurang lebih sama - tidak kelihatan kenaikan harga yang ketara). 

Anyway peladang dan petani Cameron Highlands menghadapi masalah harga jualan mereka menurun - maka pendapatan mereka pun terkesan negatif.

Saya ingin menyatakan bahawa sebarang perusahaan, industri, perniagaan, pertanian, perladangan, perikanan dsbnya membawa risikonya yang tersendiri. There is no such thing as 'cap duit'.

And there is only one way untuk menjayakan apa jenis perniagaan atau industri pun - pengusaha itu mesti rela menghadapi risiko jangka panjang dan dia mesti bekerja keras macam nak mampos.  Tidak ada cara lain. Tidak ada jalan pintas atau style short cut.

Contohnya tidak ada cara 'Jom kita sapu kebun durian usaha orang lain lepas itu kita ekspot durian  itu ke negeri Cina. We will become super rich'. 

Tuan-tuan tahu tak ekspot durian dari Thailand, Vietnam dan Filipina ke China telah mengalami pelbagai masalah.   Both Thailand and Vietnam are experiencing significant losses in durian exports to China due to stricter quality control measures and other factors. Thailand's exports to China dropped by 24% to $1.67 billion, while Vietnam saw a 62% decline, reaching $254 million, according to the South China Morning Post

Tambah lagi negeri China sendiri sudah mula menghasilkan buah durian di Hainan, Yunan dan banyak nan lagi. Dont underestimate the Chinese. Jadi segala perancangan 'skim cepat kaya ekspot buah durian je negeri China' terpaksa di KIV dulu.

Tidak ada cara lain untuk success dan menjadi kaya melainkan tuan-tuan sanggup mengambil risiko dan bekerja keras untuk majukan usaha. That is the only way.

Peladang dan petani di Cameron Highlands sudah berpuluh-puluh tahun bekerja keras, menanggung pelbagai risiko untuk membuka dan mengusahakan tanaman sayur, buah2an dan bunga2an yang  semuanya memberi sumbangan besar kepada ekonomi negara kita. Juga kepada meja makan setiap isi keluarga dalam negara kita.  We really owe them a lot.

Jika mereka menghadapi masalah, kita perlu memberi perhatian yang sewajar dan membantu keadaan di Cameron Highlands.

Jangan pula spesies yang cepat jealous atau spesies yang mahu cepat kaya cuba tabur pasir dalam periuk nasi mereka pula. Please stop such behaviours. 

Kalau kita suka buat masalah bagi jiran sebelah, lama-lama masalah itu akan singgah di rumah kita juga. 

Monday, July 7, 2025

OH NO. AN EXTRA 10% TARIFF?

 

 

 

  • Trump announcement as BRICS meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • The U.S. tariffs announced in April will take effect on Aug. 1
  • additional 10% tariff on BRICS with “Anti-American policies”
  • “Any pro-BRICS country with Anti-American policies ADDITIONAL 10% 
  • There will be no exceptions to this policy,” Trump said 
  • BRICS desire to move beyond a U.S.-led world order in finance, governance
  • BRICS offered symbolic backing to fellow member, Iran
  • Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE, Ethiopia, Indonesia and Iran. 
  • U.S. will start delivering letters Monday (today 7th July) detailing country-specific tariffs 

My Comments:

The Tariffs have been postponed to August 1st (instead of July 9th). Thus far tariff agreements with China, Vietnam and the UK have been reported though the full details are not known yet. 

In ASEAN we may not be better off than Vietnam (except maybe for Singapore). Vietnam is not in BRICS. Indonesia is a member of BRICS.  

Vietnam has already agreed to open its market fully to the United States. This could become a reference point for the US in their tariff negotiations with other Asian countries. If Vietnam can agree to this why cant you?

The extra 10% "anti-American" tariff is obviously political.  It depends on how big is the stick that Donald Trump is carrying. Trump is basically saying 'You can be anti American, that is your choice. But there is some price to pay for that'.

This problem would not have occurred if the British had not been allowed to impose all those sanctions against Russia.

Russia had applied to join NATO. They should have just allowed Russia into NATO. Problem solved. 

Back to LaLa Land, so what is going to happen? An extra 10% or not?


RAHSIA KALAH PILIHANRAYA: BOHONG SAMPAI MAMPOS - "outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8%"


RULE NO 1: NO NAMES. IT IS THE TIMES WE LIVE IN. 
SEE WHAT HAPPENED TO MISS WONG SIEW MUN.


outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8%* 
outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8% 
outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8% 
outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8% 

 *since 2020

 

 

  • new ‘luxury’ taxes hit the middle class where it hurts
  • promised new taxes would only affect rich (OSTB: Bohong)
  •  
  • but ordinary families feel the pinch 
  • new tax regime lands with a thud
  • modest pleasures are slipping out of reach
  • unexpected tax on imported luxuries 
  • pain would be felt only by the RICH (OSTB: Bohong)
  •  
  • instead erosion of middle-class 
  • increased tax burden adds to rising cost of living.
  • levies on imported luxuries raised price of everything 
  • new taxes also extend deep into services 
  • insurance, financial planning, private education 
  • triggered public anger 
  • Life is definitely going to be a pinch. 
  • not proud of the government
  • peoples' patience wears thin
  • new consumption tax at a precarious moment for middle class
  • squandering reformist credentials, alienating urban base 
  • culture wars that pander to Malay majority 
  • wielding repressive laws to clamp down on dissent
  • nepotism scandal involving daughter further battered image
  • goodwill from the people has faded
  • new taxes expected to raise about RM10 billion  
  • tax base is overwhelmingly middle class
  • nearly 3 million households earn RM4,850-RM10,959 
  • forming backbone of government revenue
  • 1.5 million T20 households monthly incomes exceed RM10,960 
  • slashed RM80 billion broad-based subsidies in 2023 alone (OSTB: Really? Then how come every year spending and gomen debt is skyrocketing. Gomen debt now in excess of RM1.3 TRILLION - more than double the level in 2018)
  •  
  • reducing electricity subsidies in 2023 
  • removal of blanket diesel subsidies in June 2024
  • will save up to RM14 billion annually
  • inflation eased to 1.8% in 2024, down from 2.5% a year earlier
  • (OSTB: Maybe the guvnor's grandmother cut the price for putumayam. They are lying. They contradict themselves - see below)
  •  
  • for many, the reprieve is more statistical. Not real.
  • More than half gomen revenue from income tax
  • 2024 record tax collection of RM184.8 billion 
  • new luxury tax alienating “large portion of disillusioned middle class” 
  • and business owners whose profit margins were already under strain.
  •  
  • plans to further restructure electricity tariffs 
  • and cut blanket petrol subsidies 
  • to save up to 8 billion ringgit.
  • cuts and taxes wearing down Malaysians.
  • all of them directly affect the cost of living
  • Business groups sounded alarm about price increases 
  • SMEs feel the strain
  • commercial rents projected to soar up to RM57,000 annually, according to FMM
  • crisis of credibility
  • series of controversies tarnished reputation
  • two senior ministers resigned from cabinet 
  • widespread accusations of nepotism
  • daughter in party’s No 2 post despite political wilderness.
  • high court ordered to stand trial 
  • failed bid for legal immunity 
  • accused of sexual harassment 
  • very challenging time ahead to get second term
  • only way is to buy-in from elites
  • don’t see how they can increase their seats 
  • Food and drink prices soared 17.5% since 2020 
  • real wages slipped by nearly 2% over same period
  • dep guvnor told a conference last month
  • Nominal wages, increased 7.9% over that period 
  • But rise outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8% 

(OSTB: I told you they are lying. Earlier they said 'inflation eased to 1.8% in 2024, down from 2.5% a year earlier'?? But here they say outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8%. And who said it? "dep guvnor told a conference last month")

  • fomenting widespread discontent.
  • Malaysia’ bracing for punishing tariffs from Washington
  • US threatened 24% blanket levy on all exports to US
  • widespread economic discontent 
  • In 2015 GST 6% triggered public backlash
  • topple once-invincible BN coalition in 2018 general election.


CONCLUSION: 

Indeed they are going to get kicked out.  It is not going to get any better. As more time passes the situation will only get worse for them.

And they are lying. At some conference a deputy guvnor said that since 2020 inflation averaged 9.8%. 

 

outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8%* 
outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8% 
outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8% 
outpaced by inflation, which averaged 9.8% 

*since 2020