Is Putrajaya's power a bane or blessing?

 

Any new visitor to the federal capital Putrajaya will be mesmerised by the grandiose of territory and its projectile, seemingly countless buildings spread out in what appears to be a sprawling playground of the powers that be.

Indeed Putrajaya has become very powerful not only by its looks but also in its revenue control.

As pointed out by Tuaran MP Wilfred Madius Tangau, the unfair redistribution of revenue collected by Putrajaya has left states like Selangor and Penang feeling short-changed.

As a result, resentment is growing over Putrajaya’s control of revenue collection.

The serious side effects of this centralised and sole benefactor arrangement of a country's wealth derived from tax and revenue are also explained in honesty by the Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

He points out that taking up loans, issuing bonds and raising funds are areas controlled by the federal government.

And because the federal government wields authority over the collection of taxes and wealth from all the natural resources of Malaysia, all the states are left with limited options to collect their own revenue much needed to provide services and benefits to the subjects of each ruler and the governors.

This does affect the people's perception and allegiance to their respective heads of state.

People also will look at their own state governments unkindly when it is the federal government that is ultimately responsible for the development, well being and progressive state of sitz im leben nationwide.

Because of this "Return to Caesar" arrangement, the consolidation of power in Putrajaya can be deemed more a bane than a blessing.

And when you have the world's biggest cabinet team currently in power, such absolute control of a nation's wealth may only further erode the blessings that could otherwise be showered all over the states.

As was also explained by the Penang chief minister, Putrajaya's dominance has forced states to rely (if not exploit) on their natural resources to find their own money.

Perhaps the moment has come for a thorough review of Putrajaya's might. - Mkini

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The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor, JD Lovrenciear and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.