Two plus two equals Five! Really? YES! – OMG!

As reported in TMI June 16, 2014, with regard to the proposed amendments to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) of Malaysia Act, Member of Parliament Wong Chen (PKR-Kelana Jaya) wanted a "firm commitment" from Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak that taxpayers money would not be spent to buy up stocks, bonds, debts and properties.

Under the proposal, the Finance Minister has the power to remove the powers of the IRB board on investment matters and replace it with a seven-member investment panel, of which six can be appointed by the minister.

Referring to IRB's 2011 annual report, he noted that the tax agency had collected RM110 billion in taxes. IRB's balance sheet as of December 31, 2011 also noted that IRB has RM255 million in short-term fixed deposits with licensed banks, representing only a mere 0.23% of the total tax collected that year and for 2010.

"If the Bill is passed, it will essentially transform the IRB into a quasi-investment body like 1MDB under the PM’s personal control," Wong Chen said in Parliament.

TMI now reports that, after keeping silent for days, Putrajaya today moved to allay fears on the proposed changes to the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) of Malaysia Act, saying that it was only aimed at increasing the tax collection agency's productivity and reviewing the rank and remuneration of its staff.

Did you get it?

Much controversy in Parliament about greatly expanding the investment powers of the IRB, under the thumb of the all-powerful Finance Minister (who is also the PM) just  explained away by referring airily to” productivity” and HR matters such as the rank and remuneration of IRB staff.

So that’s what it all was about! Just a storm in a teacup, dears!

So let’s get back to manic Mathematics.

Today we shall see why 2 + 2 = 5.

You see, everyone knows that 2 + 2 = 4. All over the world, children do their sums and start off by learning about 2 + 2 and how they add up to 4. Millions of schools do it everyday.

It’s an everyday thing, just so commonplace.

Suddenly, there was a huge wail! And the sound of someone crying bitterly.

It was Five.

“It’s not fair! I never get a chance. It’s always Four! Everyone knows him and they talk about him all the time! It’s not fair! I just don’t get a chance! Never! Never!”

Five kept crying, sitting hunched up in a corner, tears streaming down his face. He would not be comforted. Even little One ran up, held Five’s hands and looked concerned. Nothing would make him feel better.

So, everyone thought and thought and it was finally agreed: just for a day, they’d let Five take the place of Four.

Five brightened up at once! Smiling, he went to the blackboard, wrote on it and turned around to look, beaming. Everyone clapped. There on the board was written:

“2 + 2 = 5”

And all was well again.

Tum-ti-tum-de-dum.

Somehow this all sounds terribly like Putrajaya’s reply today about the IRB.

*OMG! reads The Malaysian Insider.