Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sulaiman – Bernama picture
KUALA LUMPUR: The Council of Former Elected Representatives (Mubarak) has suggested that latest smart phones, celebrity ‘tudung’, WiFi subscription, an entire subscription of Astro packages and the like are not cost of living items.
These are essentially lifestyle requirements and the cost incurred along with them should be referred to as the ‘cost of lifestyle’, said Mubarak deputy president Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sulaiman.
In a commentary issued today, ahead of the tabling of Budget 2018 in Parliament on Friday, he said some may argue that these items are actually necessary and essential requirements of today’s living in line with the country’s rapid march towards a high income status.
“Well, if need be, be it so. But it must be borne in mind that these items are not cost of living items. They are essentially lifestyle requirements and the cost incurred along with these should be referred to as ‘cost of lifestyle’,” he said.
Abdul Rahman said that in assessing the real cost of living, it is possible that there may be a tendency for some to mix both, the sum of which could be alarming.
“To avoid such possible confusion, perhaps it is now better and wiser for the government to come out with a new formula or term to describe the nature of the current concern pertaining to costs incurred by Malaysians in their daily life, he said.
Abdul Rahman suggested that these should be called Living Expenses , derived by adding the cost of living and the lifestyle cost.
Cost of Living + Lifestyle Cost = Living Expenses
Noting that the issue of the rising cost of living has been the subject of rambling, especially among the bottom 40 per cent (B40) and middle 40 per cent (M40) households of late, Abdul Rahman expressed optimism that the government, through the upcoming budget, will continue to introduce measures to relieve the people’s burden in line with its strategy of taking care of the rakyat’s (people’s) economy.
“Nevertheless, no one should expect a miracle. Prices will rise year in and year out with or without the introduction of new taxes. In line with the price increase, costs will definitely go up, including the cost of living, he said.
He said the increase of food prices has nothing to do with the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as claimed by some because the affected items are either tax exempt, zero-rated or subsidised.
To help the rakyat cushion the impact of the rising cost of living, he said, the government had introduced various measures, including the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), 1Malaysia Clinics and 1Malaysia People’s Shops.
Abdul Rahman also said that the commencement of the service of the MRT Sungai Buloh-Kajang Line last July has also helped residents in the Klang Valley to address their transport woes.
“Bearing in mind those measures taken by the government so far, it is therefore fair to expect the people to also do their part in reducing their burden.
“They can do so by enhancing their earning capacity, either through higher productivity, increased efficiency or even additional part-time jobs. If possible, they should also try to reduce their expenditure on ‘non-cost of living items’ or at least postpone temporarily the desire to satisfy their ‘wants’, he suggested.
On the budget, Abdul Rahman said that in drawing up the budget document, the government has to take into consideration the amount of revenue projected to be collected for the year in question and weigh it against the wishes of the people while, at the same time, ensuring the sustenance of the economic growth momentum.
He said Budget 2018, which is labelled as an ‘Election Budget’, is also generating a lot more interest among the people as the country is now in the last round of its preparations for the 14th General Election which must be held before August next year.
In line with this, the general expectation of the rakyat is also relatively higher than usual with their ‘wish list’ becoming longer than usual.
A lot of people are, this time around, looking forward to more so-called ‘goodies’ in the form of incentives, tax cuts or even outright gifts such as bonuses for civil servants and pensioners, increased BR1M payment, an increase in the quantum of fishermen’s allowance or higher input subsidies for farmers.
As a leader of a responsible and caring government, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak would certainly love to please and satisfy the wishes of every strata of the society, he said. – Bernama