2025 seems to be the year of the government's 'bold announcements' with one new policy after another being introduced in the name of 'incentives for the people'.
However, behind the people-friendly slogan, one decision after another, starting with the rationalization of fuel subsidies, the increase in electricity tariffs, to the elimination of egg subsidies, has sparked reactions, especially from the T15 group who seem to be the 'main characters' in all these transformation plans.
Most recently, MCA President Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong expressed concern that these policies will not only affect the T15 group, but will 'pour hot oil' on all the people regardless of B40 or M40 or anyone who eats rice every day.
According to him, the withdrawal of subsidies and the implementation of new taxes and charges such as SST, electricity tariffs and petrol prices will increase production costs, thus forcing end consumers to pay higher prices.
Dr Wee also questioned why the government is still silent on the implementation of the rationalisation of the RON95 subsidy which is expected to start this June, as well as the elimination of the egg subsidy in August.
He said that the people should be given clear and honest information, instead of being constantly presented with shock after shock in the form of hasty policies.
The big question that arises is whether this is really an ‘incentive for the people’, or just a new strategy to change the label of subsidy to a burden — which is more palatable, but still hard to swallow?
