THE IMPOSITION OF THE SERVICE TAX – A BANE TO USERS

“The government has no say in the imposition of service tax by telecommunication companies (telcos) on pre paid reloads and pre paid starters/SIM packs” says Minister of Information Rais Yatim. Beginning September 15, 2011 pre paid mobile users will be incurred a service tax of 6% whenever they buy a start kit or reload.

How easy it is for a minister to say such a thing, knowing full well that it is his responsibility to protect consumers against ‘unregulated price hikes’ by telcos. Yes, we have laws, policies, regulations and what not, but this price hike of 6% is hurting the pockets of mobile users of the lower income group that prefers pre paid rather than post paid. I think the minister isn’t aware of this because he may not be a pre paid mobile user, and I believe being a minister, his post paid mobile bills are charged to the government. I also think being a minister he does not even need to buy a hand phone, as it all comes at public expense.

I remembered in the late 80’s when mobile phones was a fashion. I too was caught in this new fashion trend and purchased a mobile phone the size of my size 8 shoe at exorbitant price. I use to boast around with my new found toy to impress others that I could now communicate with people outside the confines of my office or residence. The mobile phone was bulky. It wasn’t possible that I keep it in my trouser or shirt pocket. I had to keep it in my brief case. It wasn’t a policy then where officers holding ‘critical positions’ were equipped with a mobile phone at government expense; like it is today. I soon found that my new found toy was a bothersome i.e. high phone bill, too large to carry around and more importantly, just could not stop my boss and officers from calling me that I finally decided to do away with the cumbersome mobile phone.

Now getting back at the 6% hike in service tax for pre paid mobile phone users, I think the telcos are aware that there is a lot of money to be made by imposing the service tax. You and I know that the millions of illegal and legal foreign workers prefer the pre paid rather than the post paid. And if one were to conduct a nationwide survey on the preference of pre paid over post paid for mobile phones, I am sure pre paid outnumbers post paid users. So, do you now see the logic of the imposition of the service tax? If an idiot like me can see the logic of the increase in service tax, I do not see how the learned minister wasn’t able to rationalize this issue, unless he is a much bigger idiot than me.

I think we have enough of these price hikes that know no limit. And for a minister to come forward with such a statement, and for whatever reason, is to me an irresponsible statement and a defeatist.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION

NEWS OF THE DAY

Dr. Rais Yatim (DRY) has come out strongly to refute an allegation that he was involved in the rape incident of a maid in 2007. The story was exposed by Wikileak some two weeks ago, and implicating former PM Tun Abdullah Badawi as well, who was said to have kept the storey under wraps.

The question that many had asked is why did DRY remained silent when the story was leaked out? Why a long wait to deny the allegation, and to allow people to make all kinds of statements? If indeed DRY is innocent, he should have come out with a statement of denial at that very instant and press charges against those who made the first exposure i.e. Wikileak itself. I now will have to pacify my kampong folks at Petaling and Gagu, Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan that all the fuss about this leak is not true after all.

DRY should remember that the kampong folks are his voters, and I think they will not tolerate such nonsense coming from their ‘revered child’. I could still remember what my late father said of DRY, that “he is just an ordinary school teacher who self taught himself to become a Menteri Besar”. DRY should have known how the kampong folks reacted against him when he quit UMNO, and joined Semangat 46 around the late 80’s. I personally do not expect DRY to be involved in such a disgraceful act, for I see him as one of the most learned Minister within the Najib administration.

Getting back to Selangor, the verdict is out on the death of Teoh Beng Hock i.e. “Coroner rules out suicide and homicide” that left many to question…………….. “then, how did he die?”. An open verdict like this does not solve the mysteries surrounding the death, but will only serve as precedence to similar cases in the future. I suppose this is not the end of the case after 18 months long inquest, with renewed calls for a royal commission of inquiry seemingly gets louder.
Questions are also being raised as to why have the police investigation not being able to find conclusive evidence to the cause of death, despite obvious marks found around the neck of Teoh, and “finger drag marks on the window as indicative of a person resisting a fall”?

Honestly, I find the verdict puzzling that is sure to erode further public mistrust and battered perception of both the judiciary and the police.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION