everydaymalay

I haven't been writing in awhile....been just been reading and listening alot....the following just pisses me off...

1. Car Prices - The car prices in this country is just ridiculous and a scam! Why do we have to keep protecting Proton and Perodua or any other so called local car manufacturers? Why do we need to be forced to buy substandard cars in design, built quality and maintenance? Why do we have to pay ridiculous amounts for AP's (Import Approval Permits)? Why do we need keep supporting a substandard local manufacturers? If they can't build proper cars that can compete in the global market why should we be the ones stuck with it without a choice? Local car manufactures are a joke, Proton and Perodua are based on Japanese cars. Seen the Perodua Nautica? It a re-badged Toyota made by Diahatsu (Rush and Bego). Naza re-badges Kia's from Korea and Peugeots. Inokom is re-badging Hyundai's. We have protected Proton/Perodua/Inokom/Naza long enough, its about time the fly on their own and face the reality of real competition. It does not take rocket science to be profitable if you are protected all the time. It PISSES me off!

Malaysian middle class (lets take those who makes between RM60,000.00 to RM92,000.000 a year) should be able to buy a decent car with the quality of BMW's, Mercedes or even Toyotas without giving up 3 years salary and awhole lot more money in interest. A 3 Series BMW in the US cost anywhere between RM92,000.00 (that is less than a Proton Perdana!) for the low end and RM138,000.00 for the high end (with Taxes). Yet for a basic 3 Series here it starts at RM238,000.00 or so. If the government can't give us nothing else at least give us a better quality of life. Why should only rich Ministers and MP's or the rich should be the only ones enjoying luxury in this country when we all pay our dues? Why can't we all own better cars like the rest of the developed world? Why does the government import taxes have to be so high? Just to protect Proton and Perodua's who build half baked cars? Why do we still have the crappiest taxis in the world? In the old days before Proton we even have Mercedes as a normal Taxi, it was comfortable, spacious and safe. Now we have small outdated Proton Sagas and Wiras as our base taxis. Why do we need to ride cars which are poorly made or ride buses which breakdown or inconsistent in schedule? Why do the rakyat have to pay and suffer for protecting Proton/Perodua? Why? It PISSES me off!

PASSENGER CARS (PETROL ENGINES)
Import Duty (Year 2000, still similarly the same now):-

Up to 1799 cc 140% of CIF (Cost, Insurance & Freight)
1800 cc - 1999 cc 170% of CIF
2000 cc - 2499 cc 200% of CIF
2500 cc - 2999 cc 250% of CIF
3000 cc and above 300% of CIF
- Import Duty for passenger cars with diesel engines is set at a flat rate of 120% of CIF.
- Sales Tax is calculated based on 10% of (CIF + Import Duty charged)

The Import duties are ridiculous! The above is not yet inclusive of AP prices and dealer profit margins! And where does this tax revenue goto, we are still paying high toll rates, our road are still full of pot holes and uneven resurfacing! Now we are also paying for higher fuel! It PISSES me off!

2. Public Transport - The announcement that more public buses will be on the road will not really benefit the public! It will only benefit bus suppliers who are government linked! These buses will always breakdown due to being poorly made and badly maintained, thus they will never be on time. If you don't believe just try waiting for a bus in Taman Tun or Petaling Jaya that actually goes to your destination. The middle class will always need cars, we need to goto meetings for the company within the shortest time possible, that can't happen if you depend on the bus! RAPIDKL should change its name to CRIPPLEDTURTLEKL. I will write about the impracticality of the LRT/Monorail/ERL in another section. It PISSES me off!



3. Interstate Buses- Read my earlier article on how buses are manufactured and why so many people are killed during bus accidents. We do really need to look at the European or Australian Specifications on bus manufacturing. The current welding and riveting method of constructing buses can no longer be allowed to be practiced, is does not have public safety as its first priority. Go and ask the JPJ Technical Department do they do a roll test on the buses prior to approval of the bus chassis/frame construction? the answer is NO! Wearing seat belts on interstate buses won't help if the roof came flying off! These are things the government should be looking into... PUBLIC SAFETY. It PISSES me off!

4. Entertainment Allowances - It boggles the mind why the PM and Ministers have entertainment allowances in the first place! They go to any function, if private the tabs are paid for by the host, if government it's paid of by the relevant government agency. They host foreign dignitaries or guest the government takes the tab. Their residence, maids, cooks and drivers are paid by the government. So what do they use the entertainment allowances for? Can someone tell me? They should not have this allowance at all, instead of cutting just 10% they should give it all up! We can use it for orphanages or the hardcore poor or just towards saving the environment. It PISSES me off!

5. Mega Projects - Please enough of these mega project ideas! Just formulate projects where it benefits the rakyat, provide real jobs everywhere and that do not damage the environment. Mega Projects without real substance that only benefits a handful of companies or individuals just PISSES me off!

6. The Economy - Does the government really know what they are doing with economy? Or are they just plucking half baked ideas from the sky? Because that's what it feel like!

to be continued.....