I am baffled by some of the purported explanation that the government is giving in justifying its acts. More and more as our society evolve into a mature and educated society,the more absurd these explanations sound.
Take for instance the increase in sugar prices. Sure, if we are honest, the 20cents increase is not much.It is the reasoning that is given for the increase that is baffling. We are told that billions can be saved from this and we stand to gain as rakyats and of course the other excuse of how sugar is bad etc etc etc.
First up, we do not need a government that thinks that it is our parents, berating us on our sugar consumption. I agree that excessive intake of sweet stuff is bad. what i disagree is the government imposing its will and paternalistic views on us. Sure, its only a small issue such as this today but left unchecked, the govt would be preaching all the do's and dont's in every aspect of our lives. This is an issue of choice and we make our own choices.
Now lets talk about the billions we could save (or have saved). Haven't we heard that one before? How is this saving is supposed to benefit rakyat? By building a new istana negara ?(can i rent the old one please.....?) By building new tolled roads that we have to pay through our noses anyways to use it ?(and why does the minister(s) just pass by toll booths without paying or stopping for that matter?) By building hospitals in major cities and forgetting the out laying areas? By failing to provide adequate standard of living for average citizens (read exorbitant prices for average quality consumer goods)? So how does this savings are to benefit the rakyat?
But of course they need to save billions because how else are they to pay for directly negotiated contracts which supplies below par goods and services at highly inflated prices? It must be fun to do business with the govt.
Ultimate the people wont care for a govt that does not care for them. Governments are the will of people and should not impose its will on the people. A democratic govt which loses its representative character is no longer a legitimate govt. A govt can lose its representative character when it no longer represents the will of the people.
Sure the average citizen will understand the need for corporations to make money. Like i said, we understand the need to make money not the greed to make money. Prices of services are provided in this country escalates due to greed. There is nothing wrong if corporations are to make 1 billion less you know. Accessibility to goods and services will be vastly increased if only business world is not too greedy. And the irony is, greater accesibility translates into profit. But of course we too love the american capitalist model where the one with the money rules. The danger is when you start to treat the govt as a capitalist enterprise. The govt is always a socialistic enterprise. The social well being of the people is its main business.
But hey, what do we know?
