'Our income is not increasing much and we still have to bear the burden of increasing prices - petrol price, toll price, inflation rates, etc - and now GST. Much of the current taxes to the government aren't channeled back to us.'
GST feeds the rich, starves the poor
Kgan: Pakatan Rakyat is quite right that GST (goods and services tax) shifts the burden of tax to the ordinary people who can least afford it. As every transaction is taxed by GST there is a multiplier factor. If the goods from the manufacturer reaches the consumer via two middlemen (wholesaler and retailer), GST is applied three times.
Hence 4% becomes 12.5% hike when it reaches the consumer. Also be warned that every country starts with a low GST and then ramps it up.
Eugene: Our income is not increasing much and we still have to bear the burden of increasing prices - petrol price, toll rates, inflation, etc - and now GST. Much of the current taxes to the government aren't channeled back to us through proper regulations and effective implementation. How will the GST make any difference anyway with corruption robbing us?
Chan Cheng Lock: GST means 'Go Squeeze Them'.
Saengch: The priority is to clean up the government, then impose GST and cut income tax. Without reforming the corrupt government, any tax will be wasted.
GST makes rich people pay more, so imagine the GST they will pay on cars, furniture, parties, fashion, etc. The poor are already paying service tax so GST should replace it. Income tax should be cut to encourage the poor to move up into tax-paying bracket.
It is more productive to tax when we spend than when we produce (why punish us - rich or poor - for working hard?). GST can be structured to exempt raw/hawker food, education, essential medicines, and low-cost transport.
If you are envious of rich people because they can 'escape' income tax by earning through shares (the capitalism you despise), then GST is how they have to pay tax. If you think the rich make money illegally, you should change the government or laws so only honest people can become rich - not rob your neighbours.
Liew Chee-Kong: GST taxes one on what he/she spends and what is earned, which is opposite of income tax. The question is - is it a good time to implement GST when the rakyat is experiencing difficult times?
GST is typically used to widen the tax net and to shift the base from income to spending. This fiscal tool is effective when the economy is flourishing as it encourages taxpayers to spend less and save more. Personally, I have no problems with this except that the timing is wrong.
Allan Kong Sin: Pakatan has just confirmed that PM knows as much about finance as myself, which is a big zero. Now the poor and the poorer will be taxed. Maybe he doesn't know exactly what he is doing.
Slow death of a splendid country
Loyal Malaysian: 'And it will only leave the future generations, who have neither the means nor capability to migrate, to suffer' - a very apt observation.
I can only hope our country shall see the birth of leaders of stature and vision like Zaid Ibrahim and Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin into positions of power and influence to chart a more hopeful path for those of us without a second option in a failed nation.
Maximus: Malaysia is a beautiful country which is slowing dying because of misplaced policies over the past few decades. We have created two lost generations of Malaysians (particularly Chinese and Indians), which roughly spans the past four decades .
Due to a variety of reasons these generations have an almost pathological hatred for the ruling party and seek freedom, equality and justice. Having been exposed to years of perceived discrimination and injustice, these lost generations are tone deaf to the government's calls for patriotism and nationalism. Unlike the generation that was born before 1969, there is little or no interaction with other races.
Over breakfast and dinner, the parents of these lost generations have constantly harped on the unfairness of the system and the need for good education to escape the clutches of the system. The end result is the migration of over 300,000 in the past year, many belonging to the best of these lost generations. Many more will follow.
Teoh haunts Plaza Masalam... literally
P Dev Anand Pillai: The Hindus believe that when the 'athma' (soul) is not in peace, it will roam free and set things right which it feels should have been done when it was in a material body. So what Teoh Benh Hock's spirit is doing is not new. It has been happening since time immemorial. Let's hope that spirit can do what the courts can't...
Spiderman: Everyone knows that Teoh's ghost is seeking revenge on those guys who murdered him. If you are not guilty, why worry about the ghost coming over to seek revenge? So now, the MACC officers who asked for transfers, resigned early or who are taking long leave could be guilty ones.
Frankie Tan: It goes to show that the spiritual world is alive and kicking. Whomsoever responsible for the death of Teoh and other innocent victims shall pay either in this life or the next life. Retribution has no expiry date. Teoh's karma is working
Tony: Looks like he already got rid of the No1 man at MACC. Who's next on the list?
Paul Warren: I hope Umno begins to draft out a list of excuses it can use when MACC finally moves out of Plaza Masalam because none of its officers want to work there after 6.30pm. Indeed, the owners of Plaza Masalam better begin to worry that soon they will not have any tenants. Then they can sue MACC for the wrong that they have done.
Pak Abu: These spooky goings-on portend the final days of an evil regime. May the spirits of all who have suffered cruelty and injustice at the hands of the Umno inquisition join forces and help us overthrow arrogance, greed and tyranny once and for all! So be it.
Chinese schools produce calibre, not just copycats
Foo Suit Mooi: To all those who insist on looking at Chinese school students through rose-tinted glasses, I only have this to say: Come sit in for a day or two in my Form 6 class in an old missionary school, where 90 percent of the students are from Chinese schools around the area.
For those of you who disbelieve Prof Khoo Kay Kim's observation and ask for empirical evidence, talk to us teachers at the post-secondary level and the tertiary level from the colleges and the universities. We have the raw data and the field notes to match, besides probably 20 -25 years of experience to share.
This is not Chinese school-bashing, but a wake-up call to the community. The assertion is very simple - Malaysian students are not performing up to the mark and the majority of the Chinese school students are even more disadvantaged because of their lack of higher order thinking skills and proficiency in English.
Cala: Prof Khoo Kay Kim supports his findings by using scientific research methods. While many are anxious to prove Khoo wrong for obvious reasons, I think it is a premature move at this stage to challenge him. Why? First, what is his hypothesis that, as a researcher, he has to defend using triangulation method?
Second, whatever his hypothesis, he has to detail out the methodology so that detractors may test its objectivity, replicability, etc. These are just two hallmarks of scientific research method.
Third, where is the right forum for Khoo to present his findings? At the moment, there is no definite plan to hold a public debate between MCA Youth and Khoo.
Finally, Khoo may end up doing a lot of goal-post shifting if he is not given an opportunity to present his findings fully and completely before he is made to defend them.
Nicholas Lim Ming Xhin: I am a product of the national schools and rote-learning, and the copycat education system is just as prevalent there. Which begs the question of why has Prof Khoo Kay Kim singled out the Chinese schools?
I believe he is working the ground in preparation for the closing down of vernacular schools so that we all can learn happily ever after in our brand new '1Malaysia' schools where creativity and critical thinking will be prized above all else.
There will be no politics, racial polarisation, no religious disputes, no BTN-style brainwashing. Or so goes the great professor emeritus' daydream.
I have many friends from the Chinese schools and I don't think that they are as lousy as Khoo makes them out to be. In fact, many are working in Singapore, KPMG, England, Ernst & Young, IBM, Hong Leong Bank, Public Mutual, Silverlake, etc. Nothing wrong with them at all.
GST feeds the rich, starves the poor
Kgan: Pakatan Rakyat is quite right that GST (goods and services tax) shifts the burden of tax to the ordinary people who can least afford it. As every transaction is taxed by GST there is a multiplier factor. If the goods from the manufacturer reaches the consumer via two middlemen (wholesaler and retailer), GST is applied three times.
Hence 4% becomes 12.5% hike when it reaches the consumer. Also be warned that every country starts with a low GST and then ramps it up.
Eugene: Our income is not increasing much and we still have to bear the burden of increasing prices - petrol price, toll rates, inflation, etc - and now GST. Much of the current taxes to the government aren't channeled back to us through proper regulations and effective implementation. How will the GST make any difference anyway with corruption robbing us?
Chan Cheng Lock: GST means 'Go Squeeze Them'.
Saengch: The priority is to clean up the government, then impose GST and cut income tax. Without reforming the corrupt government, any tax will be wasted.
GST makes rich people pay more, so imagine the GST they will pay on cars, furniture, parties, fashion, etc. The poor are already paying service tax so GST should replace it. Income tax should be cut to encourage the poor to move up into tax-paying bracket.
It is more productive to tax when we spend than when we produce (why punish us - rich or poor - for working hard?). GST can be structured to exempt raw/hawker food, education, essential medicines, and low-cost transport.
If you are envious of rich people because they can 'escape' income tax by earning through shares (the capitalism you despise), then GST is how they have to pay tax. If you think the rich make money illegally, you should change the government or laws so only honest people can become rich - not rob your neighbours.
Liew Chee-Kong: GST taxes one on what he/she spends and what is earned, which is opposite of income tax. The question is - is it a good time to implement GST when the rakyat is experiencing difficult times?
GST is typically used to widen the tax net and to shift the base from income to spending. This fiscal tool is effective when the economy is flourishing as it encourages taxpayers to spend less and save more. Personally, I have no problems with this except that the timing is wrong.
Allan Kong Sin: Pakatan has just confirmed that PM knows as much about finance as myself, which is a big zero. Now the poor and the poorer will be taxed. Maybe he doesn't know exactly what he is doing.
Slow death of a splendid country
Loyal Malaysian: 'And it will only leave the future generations, who have neither the means nor capability to migrate, to suffer' - a very apt observation.
I can only hope our country shall see the birth of leaders of stature and vision like Zaid Ibrahim and Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin into positions of power and influence to chart a more hopeful path for those of us without a second option in a failed nation.
Maximus: Malaysia is a beautiful country which is slowing dying because of misplaced policies over the past few decades. We have created two lost generations of Malaysians (particularly Chinese and Indians), which roughly spans the past four decades .
Due to a variety of reasons these generations have an almost pathological hatred for the ruling party and seek freedom, equality and justice. Having been exposed to years of perceived discrimination and injustice, these lost generations are tone deaf to the government's calls for patriotism and nationalism. Unlike the generation that was born before 1969, there is little or no interaction with other races.
Over breakfast and dinner, the parents of these lost generations have constantly harped on the unfairness of the system and the need for good education to escape the clutches of the system. The end result is the migration of over 300,000 in the past year, many belonging to the best of these lost generations. Many more will follow.
Teoh haunts Plaza Masalam... literally
P Dev Anand Pillai: The Hindus believe that when the 'athma' (soul) is not in peace, it will roam free and set things right which it feels should have been done when it was in a material body. So what Teoh Benh Hock's spirit is doing is not new. It has been happening since time immemorial. Let's hope that spirit can do what the courts can't...
Spiderman: Everyone knows that Teoh's ghost is seeking revenge on those guys who murdered him. If you are not guilty, why worry about the ghost coming over to seek revenge? So now, the MACC officers who asked for transfers, resigned early or who are taking long leave could be guilty ones.
Frankie Tan: It goes to show that the spiritual world is alive and kicking. Whomsoever responsible for the death of Teoh and other innocent victims shall pay either in this life or the next life. Retribution has no expiry date. Teoh's karma is working
Tony: Looks like he already got rid of the No1 man at MACC. Who's next on the list?
Paul Warren: I hope Umno begins to draft out a list of excuses it can use when MACC finally moves out of Plaza Masalam because none of its officers want to work there after 6.30pm. Indeed, the owners of Plaza Masalam better begin to worry that soon they will not have any tenants. Then they can sue MACC for the wrong that they have done.
Pak Abu: These spooky goings-on portend the final days of an evil regime. May the spirits of all who have suffered cruelty and injustice at the hands of the Umno inquisition join forces and help us overthrow arrogance, greed and tyranny once and for all! So be it.
Chinese schools produce calibre, not just copycats
Foo Suit Mooi: To all those who insist on looking at Chinese school students through rose-tinted glasses, I only have this to say: Come sit in for a day or two in my Form 6 class in an old missionary school, where 90 percent of the students are from Chinese schools around the area.
For those of you who disbelieve Prof Khoo Kay Kim's observation and ask for empirical evidence, talk to us teachers at the post-secondary level and the tertiary level from the colleges and the universities. We have the raw data and the field notes to match, besides probably 20 -25 years of experience to share.
This is not Chinese school-bashing, but a wake-up call to the community. The assertion is very simple - Malaysian students are not performing up to the mark and the majority of the Chinese school students are even more disadvantaged because of their lack of higher order thinking skills and proficiency in English.
Cala: Prof Khoo Kay Kim supports his findings by using scientific research methods. While many are anxious to prove Khoo wrong for obvious reasons, I think it is a premature move at this stage to challenge him. Why? First, what is his hypothesis that, as a researcher, he has to defend using triangulation method?
Second, whatever his hypothesis, he has to detail out the methodology so that detractors may test its objectivity, replicability, etc. These are just two hallmarks of scientific research method.
Third, where is the right forum for Khoo to present his findings? At the moment, there is no definite plan to hold a public debate between MCA Youth and Khoo.
Finally, Khoo may end up doing a lot of goal-post shifting if he is not given an opportunity to present his findings fully and completely before he is made to defend them.
Nicholas Lim Ming Xhin: I am a product of the national schools and rote-learning, and the copycat education system is just as prevalent there. Which begs the question of why has Prof Khoo Kay Kim singled out the Chinese schools?
I believe he is working the ground in preparation for the closing down of vernacular schools so that we all can learn happily ever after in our brand new '1Malaysia' schools where creativity and critical thinking will be prized above all else.
There will be no politics, racial polarisation, no religious disputes, no BTN-style brainwashing. Or so goes the great professor emeritus' daydream.
I have many friends from the Chinese schools and I don't think that they are as lousy as Khoo makes them out to be. In fact, many are working in Singapore, KPMG, England, Ernst & Young, IBM, Hong Leong Bank, Public Mutual, Silverlake, etc. Nothing wrong with them at all.
