Gomen sharing the burden, BRAVO!

From nst online:


Fuel price hike:
Curbs on overseas trips, ministers' allowances cut
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/2263462/Article/index_html



June 10,2008


PUTRAJAYA: The government will be leading by example after the fuel price hike, by slashing expenditure that would save it RM2 billion.

The money would go towards expanding the social safety net for the poor and lower-income group, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Details will be announced separately.

All cabinet members and deputy ministers will take a 10 per cent cut in their entertainment allowances, effective July 1.

Their paid holidays have also been slashed to one week a year and limited to Asean countries. Previously, they could holiday in any overseas destination.

In public administration, ministries, departments and agencies have been told to cut back on the frills and hold their events only at government facilities.

"The government has been monitoring the people's reaction to the fuel price hike.

"It was a difficult decision that had to be made to ensure that there will be enough resources for the country's future and for future generations.

"All parties must now be prudent and find ways to reduce expenditure, including the government. The government feels the people's suffering and has decided that the country's leadership should set an example in facing this challenge," Abdullah said yesterday.

The cost-cutting measures were outlined to all ministries, departments and federal statutory bodies in a circular yesterday issued by the Treasury.

Other measures included limited overseas travel for official purposes to very important international or government-to-government meetings.

On such trips, no more than three officers from a ministry or department can attend the meetings, and they must be directly involved in the matter.

A minister can take three officers on official overseas visits, while a deputy minister can be accompanied by two.

Government events like conferences, seminars and courses, must all be held on the ministry's premises.

Souvenirs, decorations and buffet spreads should be toned down to a moderate level.

Giving souvenirs to guests and VIPs at these events is discouraged.

Purchases of assets like cars, office furniture and computers are to be postponed if they have not been committed to yet, and procurement of printers and stationery is to be reduced.

These cutbacks form about 10 per cent of the public administration's operating expenditure this year.

The creation of new posts in the civil service has been frozen except for critical posts in education, health, enforcement and collection of government revenue.

Restructuring of statutory bodies is not allowed, while ministries and departments can only restructure their organisations as long as it reduces manpower and does not involve the creation of new posts.

Tuesday June 10, 2008
Najib: Government sharing the burden


PETALING JAYA: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the cost-cutting measures announced by the Prime Minister showed that the Government was willing to share the burden in facing price hikes along with the people.

“It will not be appropriate or fair for the people alone to face this, as the Government has also taken the responsibility to reduce expenditure with its cost-cutting measures,” he told journalists in London before attending the Commonwealth Mini Summit

Najib called on Malaysians to change their mindset and seek alternative sources of energy, and not just rely on petrol. He said they could consider electric cars.

He said the issue of record oil prices was discussed during the meeting with Lord Mayor of London Alderman David Lewis.

International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said government officials should be prepared to sacrifice together with the rakyat, in line with the concept of leadership by example.

“Such a move is proactive, which goes to show how serious the Government is in overcoming the problem we are facing now,” he said.

Transport Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat described the Prime Minister’s cost-cutting measures as timely.

“I believe that expensive programmes and feasts held by the ministries which are normally done in expensive five-star hotels or resorts can be reduced,” he said.

Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH) president Datuk Mohd Ilyas Zainol Abidin said about 70% of hotels in the country were dependent on government-related functions and the cost-cutting would affect the industry,

“We will also have to scale down on our cost including on manpower. It will have serious implications,” he told reporters after Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said attended MAH’s annual dinner at a hotel here last night.

Azalina encouraged MAH to write to the ministry as soon as possible on their proposals regarding this issue, adding that she would be also speaking to travel body Matta.

DESIDERATA:

*That BRAVO up there was just to attract your attention.

Now your pressure has subsided, let's all "Yam Sing" -- and altogether no,show your right hand middle finger, point it into the face of the BN leaders, skywards.

** The blardy 10% cut of these morons' "ntertainment expenses" is a JOKE! What is 10% off frpm EE? -- when you are getting RM10,000 to RM20,000 in salary and other perks CONTRASTED with ordinary Rakayt making ends meet on RM1,000-RM3,000, some with less than RM1,000 a month?

*** Wrt "Najib called on Malaysians to change their mindset and seek alternative sources of energy, and not just rely on petrol. He said they could consider electric cars," my BLOOD PRESSURE started rising again!

Some moronic statements like before "Tighten your belt..." and "Change your lifestyle..." and now this, change your mindset..."!

Also, adding insult to injury -- "Mr DPM, Hey, since WHEN has the option of "electric cars..." been available to Malaysians?"

Desi will refrain to ask anymore Qs for now, in case this DPM is another BIGmac...
But I'll be back, on PETRONAS when I get more time to address such morons who should just retire back to their .... mum's orifice where the sun don't shine.

UPDATEd @2.32AM with another MP -- surprise! SIRprise, from Barisan Nasional! -- who now makes SENse! Now a real BRAVO! to the MP keeping his ears to the ground. WILL HE BE AMONG THE FIRST TO JUMP? If any ER has to ask "JUMP WHERE?" -- Hey, geta here outa hell!

From the star online:

Tuesday June 10, 2008 MYT 7:49:38 PM
Cost-cutting measures mere eyewash, says MP



KOTA KINABALU: It is "eyewash", says outspoken Kalabakan MP Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh about the move to cut allowances and paid holidays for ministers and their deputies.

He said it did not make sense to limit paid holiday travels for ministers and their families to local and Asean countries as such travels could still be as expensive as trips to other countries outside the region.

“I believe that they should set a figure for paid holiday expenses and let the ministers, their deputies and families to go anyway they want but they should not be able to claim more then their fixed entitlement,” he said, explaining that the free passage should be a fixed holiday passage.

He stressed that limiting paid holidays to Asean countries would not meet the government objective of cutting spending as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Monday.

In a statement, Ghapur said that the 10% entertainment allowance cut for ministers and deputies was small.

“It is not necessary to cut that allowances as it only translates to a few hundred ringgit,” he added.

He said the Government’s cost-cutting measures following the increase in fuel prices were not enough as public was going through difficult times following steep increases in prices.

“As an elected MP, I am finding it difficult to explain the fuel increases to the rakyat. They are not convinced by the Government’s argument when we are an oil-producing country,” he said.

“They are pulling wool over the eyes of the people to make it look like they are also cutting back and we do not see how this is going to bring down the prices of goods and services that are affecting the lower income people,” he added.

He said Government should be taking affirmative action to resolve the problem of increasing prices.

AMore Update moUrn of Thursday, the day after Dim HEart gathering in royal company, no less than a King, a Tun and two Singer diplomats. Ooops, correct (once only, not three times!:( that to sinGApura. Another ANGRY man -- I think I know him wellA, but I didn't know he was capable of flowery language. Strange things ANGER does to a man, or woman, on in-between; also to a capitalist, or commie or in-between.

Wandering what it's about? Hear this!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Back to Basics



The Star online yesterday reported, here, that deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who is now in London, has said that Malaysians must change their mindset and seek alternative sources of energy and not just rely on petrol. "They could consider electric cars," he said.

Electric cars? He must think that these would be cheap now and can almost run on love and fresh air. Typical of a blue-blood, I think, born with a silver spoon in his mouth unlike us peasants born with plastic spoons up our bloody arses.

Shades of Marie Antoinette here.

Najib has also said that the "government is willing to share the burden in facing price hikes along with the people". And all this while we thought that this has always been a "people's government". Sheeesh.

Perhaps a poor old retiree like me will have to resort to the above (photo) now, although there is a dearth of real donkeys in this country.

But we certainly have no shortage of them in the government.

DESIDERATA: Be back after a pee...must tell mGf to mind his Ps and Qs. My P is in the singular (AssDesiAmRegularGasAtSinger...), while mGf capitan is into UMNO-oh-no! APs two! He's joined the Q!