Time to Rethink on NS Programme?

As crude oil prices go up, as our nation's oil reserves deplete, as fuel, power and food prices go up, as the people combat the rising cost of living, as...the list goes on and on. Aptly, the country will need to review its priority and channel precious resources to areas of greater need.

One thing that comes to mind immediately is the so-called National Service programme. It really falls into the MEGA category, considering that the government, via the Defence Ministry, has so far spent a staggering RM2.37 billion since the programme's launch in 2004 to 2007, covering 339,186 NS trainees. OMG, this works out to RM6.9 million per trainee. News reports say that the 2008 NS allocation amounts to RM500 million.

Yet, despite the wish of many Malaysians to scrap the NS programme, NS Training Council chairman Lee Lam Thye said on 6 June that the NSTC would propose to DPM/Defence Minister Najib Razak to increase the number of trainees from the present 110,000 to 140,000 in 2009. (Some 490,000 born in 1991 will be eligible for NS training in 2009.) Of course, Najib would have to ask the government for an extra budget allocation to accommodate the increase in trainees.

By its own account, the government's decision to introduce the NS scheme is an admission of the country's education system's (from primary to tertiary levels) failure to promote national unity. One really wonders how this 3-month scheme can realistically achieve what the 6-year primary and 5-year secondary education failed to deliver. Furthermore, the NS training only targets less than 30% of the Form 5 student population.

The money allocated to the NS scheme could well be used for more fruitful and worthwhile cause. For example, use the fund to give out more scholarships. Of course, the NS trainers and other service providers contracted by the Defence Ministery - and perhaps some NS trainees - will not be too happy.

Read also Steve Oh's letter on 'NS a reflection of education system's failure' in MalaysiaKini (3/6/08).

NS Training - Cons Outweigh Pros?

Did you read yesterday's The Star on 'A trainee's account on the NS programme' (7/6/08)?

While the government is strongly sticking to its story that the National Service programme is achieving its objectives, here's one trainee who thinks otherwise. Here are some excerpts:

...First of all, I would disagree if anyone were to ask me whether it was a waste of time spending three months completing my service stint. However, I do not think that I have greatly benefited from the programme either.

...However, it has failed to achieve its main objective – to instil patriotism and promote racial unity.

It is a frail attempt to inculcate these virtues in a short period of three months. I would not deny that to some, it may have succeeded, but to most of us, it has failed.

...Furthermore, I was saddened because inter-racial friendship merely existed superficially for most of the trainees.

He/she also commented on the firearms training:

I seriously hope that the government would review the firearms training. I think that it is only a gimmick to please teenagers such as me. It merely provides few minutes' surge of adrenalin at the cost of hard-earned taxpayer’s money.

Walk Your Thoughts, Mr Ministers

There have been calls for our elected leaders to walk their thoughts just as they have asked the people to change their lifestyles and spending patterns in the wake of rising fuel prices and electricity tariffs. I fully sokong (support) the call that the government should display exemplary leadership by eliminating unnecessary and wasteful expenditures. Most Malaysians would want to see the government adopt a more prudent (and even frugal) financial management style. Please, no more extravagant projects and (mega)events that see little or no ROI.

For a start, how about cutting down on your travel in those fuel-guzzling (and expensive) Mercedes, BMWs, SUVs and MPVs? Use them only for official or state functions. For daily travel, make do with our national cars, like the Proton Perdana or the Executive Waja.

Come to think of it, these elected Yang Berhormats are supposed to stand for office with the noble aim of serving the rakyat. I'm sure the rakyat do not want to see precious resources being splurged on luxury cars.

Also, given the country's current financial position, people will not take it light if it sends another angkasawan to space. We don't need to spend another RM39 million on such space programme unless it can be proven that it can bring economic benefits.

And yes, there should be report cards on those so-called rombongan lawatan sambil belajar. In fact, those in the rombongan should even be given KPIs to prepare action plans.

While on the subject of 'serving', read IR Aziz's letter 'Time for politicians to move on and serve' in The Star (6/6/08).

Is Our CPI a True Indicator?

Conversations with senior economists indicate that actual CPI is higher than the official figure. Read The Star reader Anwarudin's views on this...

 Inflation figure must reflect the actual CPI

WITHIN a month, world food price (especially rice) has increased sharply. In Kuala Lumpur alone, most of the restaurants and food stalls raised the price of rice from RM1 to RM1.20 or even RM1.40.

Now do the mathematics. Do you think this is merely 3% inflation as reported by Bank Negara?

Let’s be more practical when it comes to determining purchasing power and inflation. The impact of coming out with a low inflation number eventually jeopardizes our life.

Most companies use this number to adjust their staff’s annual increments although some have their numbers based on personal and company performances.

Thus, Malaysian workers will get increments of between 2% and 2.5%.

Bank Negara’s inflation rate only measures basic foodstuffs that are subjected to price control and fails to reflect the true situation. The real inflation reported by many groups of public interest is as high as 20% according to the “real” CPI (Consumer Purchase Index), also referred to as cost-of-living index.

We can maintain our lifestyle if we get an increment that equals real inflation, i.e. 20%, which means to say that we will be able to convert our whole income into a quantifiable amount of goods and services that we could obtain in the previous year.

I hope those involved in monitoring inflation will visit shops patronized by average Malaysian consumers and share our pain.

ANWARUDIN

(Source: Views, The Star, 5 June 2008)

Price Hike: Double Whammy

Needless to say, we can expect a domino effect from the hike in prices of petrol (up 78 cents to RM2.70 per litre) and diesel (up RM1 to RM2.58 per litre). Prices would be adjusted monthly based on global oil prices.

Lorry transport companies up north have already responded to the fuel price hike by announcing a 34% increase in transportation charges. The burden will ultimately be passed on to consumers at the end of the chain, e.g. in the form of higher prices for food and consumer goods.

For the time being, bus operators will not be able to increase prices as they need government approval to do so.

Meanwhile, FOMCA warns of the government to be prepared for the aftermath.

As if the higher fuel prices were not enough to dampen sentiments, electricity tariffs will be revised upwards to the tune of 26% beginning from 1 July.

If it's of any consolation, owners of private vehicles with engine capacities of 2000cc and below would be given an annual RM625 rebate, while owners of motorcycles of 150cc and below will get RM150. Despite the rebates, chances are that we will need to dig deeper into our pockets to pay for our monthly fuel charges; unless you have options for moving around.