I met a middle-aged Chinese man outside the Kin Orient Plaza at around 8:00 pm this evening seemingly looking "lost and puzzled". I observed for a minute or so before i approached him. He was puffing on a cigarette as i walked towards him and he looked at me without any expression at all. I started with a stupid but friendly opening "shopping, my friend?" He answered with a simple "yeah" but he started to warm up a bit to this stranger who was me.
We then started on the Chinese New Year and how much does it cost a family just to barely make it for the festive celebration. He told me that the price increases of average goods are in the region of 30-50% but as high as 100% for certain essential items. He further revealed that he would rather stand outside the supermarket while his wife shops with his kids. I asked him "why didn't you join them?" He told me that that would make him bankrupt as his kids would demand him to buy more which he can't afford. He was angry at his lack of money to give his family what they want but sad that he can't help it.
He also told me that this would be a painful year as the flood in December 2007 and the new school year had burnt a deep hole in his pocket and now the CNY would definitely adds burden to him. Finally he told me in Foochow dialect "no government" which means the government is useless
The above innocent conversation revealed how good is our economy. The government can boost all they want about how good and how solid is our country's economy but the average Malaysians are facing price hike unprecedented and they are suffering in vain. All the oils money and the good palm oil prices only make a few rich while the rest of the Malaysians have to suffer fuel price hike and vicious inflation. But you can see the anger and the sadness in them if you spend time listening to them, they will pour out their sorrow and their anger even if they do not know you well.
After finishing talking to him, i introduced myself and he was glad that an opposition leader has listened and shared his hardship with him. He also told me that "you really sound like an opposition" but he likes it as i understand their problems and hardship. He also knew that i will be contesting the Lanang seat in the coming election but he is not voting in Lanang but i told him that it does not matter as long as he understands that we do need a strong opposition in the country so that we have "government" (in Foochow).
David Wong
20-01-2008
Sunday, January 20, 2008
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3 comments:
There are Chineses who do not celebrate Chinese New Year and they do not open their houses too. They would run away to some foreign land for holidays. May the bang, bang, bang scares them off.
But for those who celebrate, I can understand it is not a joking matter. Just one packet of something will cost you a heartache. This includes the bang, bang, bang stuff. May be on this point, the shopkeepers can import goods that do not have to cost a lot since the Ministry of domestic trade and consumer affairs finds it hard to keep prices of goods down.
You are right. If I am to read up the Forbes Magazine, probably I can count how many rich people are there in Malaysia. The rest are just the ordinary everyday people trying to make ends meet. We can boast of many modern developments but I always wonder if Malaysia is that rich. Somebody please do an accounting for Malaysia.
Yes. We do need a strong opposition. Even Tun Dr Mahathir would agree with you. Why? Because we do not want our beloved country to be screwed until there is no more pride in the country.
Thank you for sharing. I am deeply saddened by the rot in Malaysia. Peoples are stuggling by the day to make end meets while the government mismanagement and corruptions cost us billions every year.
Oils prices and palm oil prices are the record level high and we make hundred of billions from these two commodities alone, how come the country is suffering deficit for the eleventh straight year? How mant Malaysian actually benefited from all these apart from giant coporations and the ruling eleites?
Yet the government said it would go bankrupt if it continues subsidising the petrol price.Thus the imminent price hike in 2008 and according to sources in the oil industry, a hike of 50 sen per litre for petrol and even bigger hike for disel.
The peoples' confident is at all time low and they are lost in all these confusing economy chaos. They are now worry about the fuel prices hike after the general election and the inflation spiral that comes with it. How does the future fare? They simply lost hope of a better and easier life for themselves and their families. Hinfraff rally was just a begining if the rot continues.
Would all these turn into votes for the oppositions in the coming election? Theoretically yes but the dirty BN would use empty promises, threat and intimidation and vote-buying to secure electoral victory. No help comes from the election commission (SPR)either as my posting earlier on the phantom voter revealed.
David Wong
21-1-2008
for a start, that man can stop puffing on the cigarrette. stop smoking. one small step can help to reduce "harmful" spending , improve on health and reduce pollution to the environment.
imagine one million smoking citizens who wants a better future actually committ to stop smoking. one simple thing to give up for a better future for oneself and for ones future generation.
If we really want it we can do it.
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