Free Transport to Bayan Lepas and Back

I must commend upon the Penang State Government for conceiving and implementing the free transport system for the benefit of those residing in Perai but working in factories in Bayan Lepas. I must say, "Syabas" to Lim Guan Eng, LGE, for such brilliant idea that will benefit thousands of low wage factory workers plying between Penang Island and Butterworth and Prai.

For the past decades, BN have failed to recognise the hardship that it had created for the people by raising taxes in practically all services and goods. Gasoline and diesel prices have been revised upwards at least four times in 2010 and the BN Government have hinted that it would increase further the current prices of petrol and diesel in the near future.

I am sure economists would agree with me that average increase of wage level over the past decade is very much disproportionate to the increase in the CPI. In view of this, the living standards of the people in the country have taken a serious dive. The net take home pay of majority of the workers has fallen short of enabling them to maintain the status quo. Each year that passes by sees the average person tightening his belt tighter.

A cup of Milo now costs RM2.10 while a plate of ordinary Wan Tan noodle costs between RM4.00 and RM5.00 depending on which food-court one goes to. A poor man's drink is kopi-o which costs now RM1.20 or RM1.30. A piece of roti-canai is no longer priced at RM0.50 It has gone up to RM0.80 because of price increases of flour, sugar and ingredients.

Transport cost has gone up while the road tolls have gone up tremendously. How does the Government expect the average people to make ends meet?

Meanwhile we continue to see our UMNO/BN Government squandering the country's resources unabated through inflated project costing, corruption, fund-outflow, bailing out annually GLCs for their sustained losses, unprofitable investments overseas etc.

It has been reported somewhere in the blog that during the past ten years, about 300 billion ringgit had taken flight from the country into the various vaults of tax haven countries. And this is most telling on the country's economy.

Even though what the Penang Government is doing might be small in comparison to the budget for the ETP projects, the money benefit the small men of Penang. They certainly appreciate the kind gesture of LGE's administration.

When the LGE's administration decided to award the senior citizens of Penang RM100 each, the UMNO/BN leaders were obviously envious. Their eyes just popped out. Instead of applauding LGE for his kind consideration, they condemned him by stating that the money dished out to the elders was haram. What about the corrupt money they that they have received? Are they haram or halal? Have they been so laundered that they have become legit to be siphoned out of the country?

This is what the people look for. Small things. It is hoped that the leadership of UMNO/BN emulate what Penang is doing.