Twitterjaya: PM's trimming measures not enough

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's 11 new measures to reduce public sector expenditure do not seem to have found universal approval, with several prominent individuals expressing their discontent with the move.

"What I think are the 11 moves to cut expenses? No pain, no gain.

"In this case, not enough pain to match the rakyat's, so no gaining our love.

"Sorry," said prominent social activist and columnist Marina Mahathir (left) in her Twitter post as reactions began trickling in for Najib's move, which comes hot on the heels of a slew of price hikes implemented by his government which have shot up living costs.

In another tweet, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) associate professor Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said cost reduction must be enforced at all levels, including even the monarchy.

"Many people do not want to say it but I have to say this. The cost reduction must be enforced at all levels including the royal families," said Asri.

Backing from BN members

However, Najib’s new measures, unsurprisingly, have received support from the BN members such as Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin, Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang and former deputy minister Saifuddin Abdullah.

All of them expressed their support to the initiative in their Twitterprofiles.

“Najib has announced 11 measures to reduce government cost. Read full report at Astro Awani. Support!” said Khaled in his Twitterpost.

“Malaysians want (the) government to cut administration cost before raising tax. Yesterday’s announcement by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak certainly is in the right direction,” said Tan.

“Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak had announced 11 measures for the government to be cost-saving. It proves that he hears the people’s grievances. It helped him to spend less,” Saifuddin (right) added.

Among the general public though, the sentiment seems to be that the cost cutting measures on the part of the Najib administration will not be enough to stifle the impact of price hikes that the people are feeling.

“Will the 11 cost-down by Najib save RM5 billion? Scrapping the MRT2 & 3 and replacing it with a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) will save RM50 billion… Easy step to take,” said Twitter user Khalid Karim.

Another user by the name of @vin_ann9h said, “Government is missing something in its actions! We welcome cost cutting, but we wanted wastage to reduce even more!!!”

'Principle is there, but extent is very little'

“Even the 11 measures of cost-cutting by Najib is very trivial and also a question of principle. Principle is there, but extent is little,” said Twitter user Brian Lian.

“The ministers’ entertainment allowance reduction of 10 percent – still got a lot of other allowances: Petrol, toll, eat, travel etc. Their salaries did not reduce,” said another Twitter user Syed Marwan.

PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil (left) questioned in his Twitter posting how much costs could be reduced with the 11 measures Najib announced.

“11 cuts, how much cost can be saved? Maybe there are other cuts that could save more? (Eg: If never use consultants like Mckinsey),” Fahmi said in his Twitter post.

Meanwhile, there are also those who support Najib’s cost reducing measures.

“I hope Datuk Seri @NajibRazak will fulfil his promise to cut government cost by the year 2014,” said Twitter user @asyrafzabani21h.

Another user, Faisal Moideen, pointed his finger at the Pakatan Rakyat-led state administrations, sayinf: "PR governments too need to be prudent in expenditure. They too had their own recent salary hike of Selangor officials."