The underclass - By Zaid Ibrahim

 

The underclass - by Zaid Ibrahim

Lim Teck Ghee is a good man. By that, I mean he genuinely cares about the country. He is a knowledgeable and respected economist, and he should be selected to play a more central role in policy-making. But he was not.

He wrote an article about why the govt (he seems to have much hope for what the Bumiputra Congress can do) should help the underclass. But nothing will come out of Congress that will be relevant and useful to the underclass.

In this country, policies are not meant for the underclass. The Municipal Council / local govt are going all out to cancel licences for many reasons. Earning a living is hard, but they make it harder

Breach of licence condition is usually the one they used. But when you put so many conditions that you know could not be fulfilled when you issue them, it’s easy to revoke them

Let’s say the condition is to operate the business yourself. For the upper class, the licence will not be revoked as the govt knows the upper class never uses the licences to do business themselves.

Have you ever heard of timber licences, mining licences, and sand operating licences issued to the upper class were operated by them? The underclass who got licences to do business in the Selayang market will be punished if they make a few hundred Ringgit by renting their licences

Let’s say the condition stipulates no foreigners will operate the licence. How do foreigners come here in millions if it's not for the manoeuvrings of the upper class? Yet the underclass will be punished if they rent their premises/licences to these foreigners for a few hundred Ringgit a month

So, to my friend Lim Teck Ghee, I am sorry to disappoint you. People experiencing poverty and the underclass have a bleak future because our upper class is well-entrenched. Those attending the Bumiputra Congress tomorrow come from the upper class.

They are not about to slice the cake (according to Finance Minister 2) but prefer to grow it. As we speak, more licences and businesses of the working class will be cancelled or closed due to poor business conditions. 

But I am sure the situation will be different for the upper class. Their cake will grow for sure

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.