All Must Do Their Part

By Wong Chun Wai

Teh tarik satu, kurang manis – that is the standard line when we visit our favourite mamak stall simply because Malaysians are too aware of the downside of consuming too much sugar.

Available statistics point to the fact that Malaysia has the fourth highest number of diabetes cases in Asia with 800,000 cases in 2007 and the number is expected to jump to 1.3 million this year.

The National Health and Morbidity Survey in 2006 revealed that 43.1% of Malaysian adults were overweight or obese, double the figure a decade ago. More frighteningly, hospitals are seeing cases of diabetes on the rise among teenagers aged between 13 and 19 in recent years.

If the trend continues, a report said, over 50% of the population would have the problem and a third would be diabetic well before 2020.

It isn’t clear if Malaysia would achieve developed status by 2020 but we can be pretty sure that we would be a nation of diabetic and over-weight people.

Malaysians can thank their over-indulgence in sweetened carbonated drinks and junk food for attaining this status.

The decision to cut down on subsidies for sugar and fuel will not go down well with the people, no matter how big or small the numbers. It can never be sweet when it comes to cuts.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has made a bold move. It will not be a popular decision, given the fasting and Hari Raya seasons ahead but it is the right decision. A good leader has to make the right decision.

There can also never be the correct time with a festival involving the various ethnic groups coming along almost every few months.

The current rationalisation on subsidies involving 5 sen to 10 sen would probably be regarded as small by most analysts who see an urgency for the Government to reduce its budget deficit. The fact is that the Government would have to fork out a staggering RM200bil to subsidise petrol and diesel over the next 20 years if we continue the present course.

We are one of the highest subsidised nations in the world, with fuel subsidies representing 5% to 44% of the nation’s fiscal deficit.

In short, a much quicker fix would have been preferred by the economists but the Government has to take into account the political balance and not burden the people. A gradual increase, as it is being done, has been chosen instead.

Even after these changes, the Government will still spend about RM7.82bil on fuel and sugar subsidies this year.

As for the cuts in fuel subsidy, Malaysians using small cars or motorbikes would not be affected too much and certainly it is fair that those with bigger, powerful and luxury imported cars have to fork out more for their vehicles.

The Government has also rightly not touched cooking oil and flour which are also subsidised, to ensure the middle and lower incomes are not affected.

Generally, Malaysians would support the initiatives to remove these huge bills to pay for our use of sugar and fuel. In the case of fuel, it has even benefited our neighbours with over 200 metric tonnes of sugar sold across the borders.

Fishermen have found it to be more lucrative to sell their subsidised fuel – one of the cheapest in the region – than catching fish.

But Malaysians also feel that this rationalisation exercise should be a shared responsibility. It does not matter whether you are a royalty, a minister, civil servant or a road sweeper, everyone must be seen to do their part.

It is a sin, even a treachery to the nation, if there is wastage and leakage because of our mismanagement, incompetency and corruption.

The people will not be convinced if we talk of putting up expensive buildings and structures if the Government wants to get the support of the people.

Let not our leaders, for one moment, think the people can be hoodwinked. They will catch every word and every action of our leaders to see whether they practise what they preach. The days of talking down to the people are over.

It is good to hear that Najib has dismissed the proposed new Parliament building in Putrajaya. In fact, no state should be putting up state assembly buildings when elected representatives only meet a few times a year.

The billions of ringgit removed from subsidising sugar and fuel, we are told, will be used for education and health care.

Other areas include security, development of skills and new energy technologies. Not to forget, scholarships for all SPM achievers with 9A+ or better, regardless of their race. This scholarship move is unprecedented. - The Star