DAP: Government losing RM3.6 bil annually over APs

DAP is urging the federal government to scrap the Approved Permit (AP) system outright, rather than maintain it up to 2015, as it is resulting in nearly RM3.6 billion in revenue lost annually.

Party national assistant treasurer Nga Kor Ming (right) said in a statement today that the RM3.6 billion (that is lost) is sufficient to build 90,000 units of low-cost homes, which would practically solve the problem of illegal squatters in Malaysia.

According to Nga, the government issues 100,000 to 120,000 APs annually, with each worth RM40,000, totalling RM4.8 billion.

However, the government charges only RM10,000 per AP, amounting to RM1.2 billion for 120,000 APs, hence RM3.6 billion potential revenue is lost.

Nga said that since the government is in dire need of funds, abolishing the APs will mean more funds for the basic needs of Malaysians, in line with Najib's 'people first' and 'performance now' slogans.

Nga also wants a review of the BN car policy that he alleges has impoverished Malaysians, whom he says have been forced to subsidise Proton for the past 26 years since its launch in 1984.

He says the highly protectionist policies in Proton's favour has forced many Malaysians to buy the Proton due to heavy taxes on imported cars.

Nga, who is also DAP state secretary, said Proton had used public funds up to RM500 million to set up their operations, but their production is 97 percent for the local market.

With only three percent exported, Nga says Proton has done little to help the country's economy.

The DAP Taiping MP also alleges that the heavy subsidy and trade protection policy has resulted in Proton's inefficiency and lack of competitiveness.

Education burden

Nga also questioned what had happened to the RM3.6 million allocation in the Perak's 2010 budget passed at the state assembly in Oct 28 last year, which is supposed to support the nine independent Chinese high schools in the state.

Almost a year has gone by but it remains an empty promise, says Nga, claiming that none of the nine schools has received the allocation.

Nga said the Chinese community has been supporting mother tongue education by donating millions annually to the 1,284 SJK (Chinese) and 60 Chinese independent schools throughout the nation.

"This is a heavy financial burden shouldered by the majority of the Chinese for the past 195 years since 1815, since Chinese school donations (started)," he said, adding that the donations have been regarded by the community as a "second income tax without exemption."

courtesy of Malaysiakini