Better Off Without Subsidies

I have been always opposing to subsidies, which sometimes described as a mechanism for a fair market. Sometimes, it is just not fair for us. I had always argued for it to be removed but Malaysians tend to think about money they can see.

On a verge of giving up, someone gave me hope. Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Seri Idris Jala had spoken about it recently and finally I can see hope for a freer and fairer market for Malaysia.


When someone with such amount of credibility spoke to fix it, it might finally make a difference. After all, this man is the CEO that saved MAS from its crisis.

Many may see subsidies as a fair thing, we pay income tax and we should be subsidised. But we should also take into account that sometimes we pay much tax that in the end benefits the rich. How much can a commoner spent on fuel as compared to those taukehs?


The minister said the subsidies in Malaysia was on a blanket basis – given to everyone regardless of income level. "For example, 70 percent of fuel subsidies go to mid- to high-income groups."

The portion we get don't justify what we pay through income tax. Not just fuel, we lost to them in the spending on tolls, foods and other stuffs. One example is the toll issue where government had to compensate the toll companies. That's our money and how often we use the highways as compared to the big bosses?


With the management of the ex-CEO of MAS at work, the government can finally start reducing the subsidies gradually without jeopardising the economy and living standards of the public.

Hopefully what they do will benefit the country. I still have faith in the governing party and let's hope their action will prevent us from bankrupt in 2019. (Ironically we wanted to be an industrialised nation by 2020. =.=)

Responding to The Malay Mail article - "Rationalising subsidies - Idris Jala reveals Malaysia's growing debt and the need to cut it".