The Malaysian Insider – 4 hours agoRELATED CONTENT
- Reduce Cabinet size, not add more taxes, says think tank
Putrajaya should consider reducing the number of its Cabinet ministers instead of burdening the lower income group with the introduction of new taxes, says Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) CEO Wan Saiful Wan Jan.
In line with the economic uncertainty and declining global oil prices, he said the government should adapt a more prudent spending habit and not put more pressure on the people, already burdened by rising cost of living.
"If there is not enough income, reduce the size of the government which include the number of Cabinet ministers.
"Cut down on spending and start saving money rather than taking more cash from the people. (Definitely) Not by introducing new taxes to the system," he told a public discourse titled, "Preservation or Subsidy Withdrawal – Economic Impact on Youths" last night.
Apart from Wan Saiful, many observers too have expressed concern that Najib's team, which at 35 is even bigger than his predecessor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s 32-member Cabinet, will further slow down reforms that are needed to drive the country forward.
Wan Saiful said Putrajaya at the moment seemed to be more concern about retaining the number of ministers amid a gloomy world economic growth prospects.
He said savings from reduced spending will enable the government to impose minimum taxes on the people.
"If the government has no money, perhaps losing a minister will be a good thing for the country.
"I do not think Malaysia will go bankrupt if Putrajaya doesn't have enough money. Those who will be affected are ministers who are bound by debts and involved in activities outside of their job scope.
"There are more than 30 Cabinet ministers so they are thinking about ways to keep all of them. What is there to think about, if there is not enough money, then start saving more and spend less, just like the people.
"Cut down on the shopping for decorative items for the offices, reduce travel expenses and drop some of the ministers if we have to. We don't really need that many ministries anyway," he said.
Although Putrajaya's move to rationalise subsidies was commendable, Wan Saiful said, the government could do more to reduce its expenditure.
"The withdrawal of subsidies is something that needs to be done now and continued until society is no longer dependent on it.
"It is a step in the right direction. It is more moral and appropriate," he said.
As for politicians, Wan Saiful warned that none of them was interested in the people's wellbeing instead, they only wanted to ensure that they could remain in power in the next election.
"Since when did the government think about the people? They only want to maintain power. Politicians only think of winning the election.
"Expecting politicians to think for others is only a pipe dream. It will never happen," he said. – December 10, 2014.
