Then and now : Malaysian Government– Tan Poh Kheng

The Malaysian government is two very distinct entities before and after the general election.

Prior to the GE13, government officials were very accommodating, and would try to rectify or withdraw any policy that triggered the slightest frustration among the people.

Example: the government took the initiative to reduce the tolls on Kesas Highway by 10 to 40 sen. Then works minister Shazman even pledged, "The toll will not be increased by one sen before 2016."

After the May general election, government officials have taken on an altogether different image, treating people like you and me as trash.

Goods prices, fuel prices, assessment rates, and etc., etc., start to escalate, plunging ordinary people into deep hot water while those in power choose to ignore.

Even before the year 2014 steps in, other things like electricity tariff, public transport fares and school bus fees are already waiting to go up.

As if that is not enough, works minister Fadillah Yusof has slapped yet another shock onto Malaysians by announcing that highway tolls will be increased come January 1.

Tolls on 15 highways, including the Kesas Highway whose tolls have been pledged to stay put until 2016, will be increased by 50 sen to RM2 from January.

The minister's explanation: "Highway concessionaires have not increased the toll rates for six years and therefore the margin this time will be almost double."

No increase in six years? What about the massive compensation disbursed by the government? Deputy works minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said barely two months ago that the government had paid highway concessionaires a total of RM582 million for not increasing the toll rates for the past two years.

The question: How can the highway concessionaires increase the toll rates by two-fold having bagged in the generous compensation from the government?

The minister has encouraged the public to use public transport services, and said the government is studying the feasibility of issuing bus vouchers to students and working class, or providing public transport discount cards as in London to encourage more people to leave their cars at home.

Having said that, how could the minister be not aware that the land public transport commission is also reviewing the fares of public transport services such as LRT, monorail, taxis and buses?

Given the current state of public transport services in the city, how do we expect people to leave their cars at home and go for buses or trains? No right-minded people would want to shoulder the tremendous economic burden of vehicle purchase if our public transportation system satisfies the public needs?

So, don't just say things that won't help address the woes of the public from the comfort of your air-conditioned offices, please.

DBKL's proposed drastic 100-300% hike in property assessment rates is simply absurd while triggering loads of complaints and frustration from disgruntled urban folks. But, have those in DBKL seen or heard the grievances of the people in the street?

I doubt.

Minister of the federal territories Tengku Adnan said jokingly that 40,000 complaint letters hardly made up 10%, not logical enough to take him out of office!

The voice of 40,000 urban folks could be easily trifled with! This is the way our leaders treat the rakyat after the general election. – mysinchew.com,