Today, I am going to take the lazy easy way out by highlighting the plight of a single mother who wrote to The Sun about her struggles in coping with the costs of living in Malaysia.
The letter is so spot on and very real. These are real people struggling to make ends meet with no other options or avenues to help them. The writer of this letter is right. The government can go on and on about telling people to change their lifestyle but how is that possible when salaries do not even increase?
Did all these filthy rich leaders with vacation homes in Europe and fat Swiss bank accounts ever stop to think that it is them who needs to change their lifestyle and stop draining the country of its resources at the expense of those with lower-income in Malaysia?
But then, I guess, most of these greedy selfish leaders are too busy stuffing their faces and adding to their fortunes to even think about others.
So anyway, here is the letter:
Single mum’s struggle to survive
I HAVE read many stories about the price increases, but so far, I feel that no one actually knows or cares about how much we, the just-below-average and under-average income earners, live.I’ve read news articles on how people cope with their income, but most of them earn RM3,000 on average a month!
What about me and those in my shoes?
I am a single parent. I am not a charity case (though it looks like I’m being pushed into that) and I have a child who is three going on four. My ex-husband doesn’t support me. I work as an assistant officer in a factory. My net income is RM1,300 a month.
To get to work and to send my child to the babysitter, I have to drive because the public transport turns up only when it feels like it. Moreover, to get from my house to my workplace just 7km away, I have to travel on two buses that will take me 20km in all different directions before getting me there.
For your information, I live in Seremban; not too far off in a rural area, just about an hour’s drive from KL, but we have crappy public transport.
The 13-year-old Proton Wira I drive belongs to my brother-in-law. God bless him, he lets me use the car after having bought a new one late last year, so that I can get to work on time.
I rent a house for RM280 a month and my babysitter costs me RM270 a month. My utility bills come up to RM100 and my phone bill RM80. I had to cancel my credit card, which I had from my single and carefree days, and now I’m paying for it (RM160 a month) until 2010. I put money aside for my child’s milk, diapers, food, gas, rice (all these used to come to around RM250 a month) and of course, petrol! I used to spend RM120 on petrol a month. And that would leave me RM40 a month for doctor’s fees, and maybe to get a new pair of slippers for my child or whatever is needed for her. (How I’ve changed my lifestyle. I have not had a haircut in two years. Let me just say I’ve made changes to my lifestyle, drastic changes from two years ago when my ex-husband left). Still, I used to get by.
Then came the petrol price increase.
Chicken is more expensive (I’m not even going to talk about rice), as are eggs, milk, vegetables and fish. Even if I sell this old car, I still will not be able to cover my expenses for food. How much and how long do you think that RM625 (rebate from the government) will help me? I’m sick and tired of hearing our leaders say “change your lifestyle”. There is nothing more for me to change. Unless I skip some meals, maybe breakfast and lunch? But then, what if I get sick? Who will care for my daughter? How do I pay for the doctor? And if I don’t go to work (because I’m sick), I might no longer have work. Then who will pay all the expenses? Where will I live? Will the government give me a house?
As I struggle with my income, what about my friends at the factory whose salaries are RM550 a month? Among them are two widows with school-going children. They have worked as operators for five to eight years and their net salary is only about RM650 a month. Luckily, they have their own houses and don’t need to pay rent. Lucky for them too, they either walk or cycle to work. But don’t think the petrol price has not affected them.
They still have to buy food and clothes and pay for their children’s school bus fares which have all increased. But their income remains the same. What is the government going to do for them?
All I hear on news of the government is how they are trying to find ways to help civil servants. I’m not saying they don’t need help, but what about us? Is anyone doing anything for us or would you prefer we just fade away quietly? Our income will not go up, you can bet on it that the company will not increase salaries for next year as well, because it needs to cut costs or close shop! Then what will we do?
I understand that only those whose family income is below RM350 a month are entitled to welfare aid. And my friends were told that because they work, they are not entitled to welfare.
So, can someone explain to us, what is there for us to change? Please don’t tell us to get another job because we do not have the time.
I want a reply from someone who can give me good, clear answers. Not some “merry-go-round the bush” answer.
Desperate Mother
via email
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Reality is always reality. The people of the Malaysia, especially the low and middle income people are suffering through the ongoing increase in price of items, foods and other daily stuffs.
M’sia is so rich in finite resources and infinite of talent. Our life should not be like this.
I was so very moved by this lady’s plight. I have copied her letters to all contacts in my email account and hope something positive could be done to help these poor and hapless fellow Malaysians! I would suggest setting up a Bloggers’ fund to help these people through voluntary donation. Hopefully we would see the first brick of the crooked BN fortress coming down after the PP re election.
Bodohlands last blog post..Rakyat’s Wish
Urm…if the suggestion of setting up a bloggers’ fund do come true, can put my name on the list ar?
not under the ‘people who donated’ list, but under the ‘people who needs donation’ list.
my plight is not far off from hers only,…come to think of it, mine worse eh. I got wife somemore! Extra 1 people liau and my salary hard-fight with hers.
Crotaluss last blog post..Doggone Racial Politics
I don’t know how to start a Bloggers’ Fund. But if someone were to start one now, I pledge RM100 to start the ball rolling. What say you?
Bodohlands last blog post..Raja Petra Kamarudin, The Patriot
the letter is so direct that i can almost hear the person saying it.
about the bloggers fund… only fund her or fund all the rest who suffered the same fate? how long can we continue funding others?
if the government thinks about the rakyat, we wouldn’t need to be the one coming up with funds
u-jeans last blog post..Of the Civil Society Award nomination, decreasing sense of security in UKM, and catty pictures
oOfooi: You are right, our lives should not be like this but it is. Isn’t it time that we do something about it?
Bodohland: It is quite easy to moot an idea for a Bloggers’ fund to help the less fortunate but the difficult part is setting it up, tracking the funds and finding the recipients. I think it is better to find a longer term solution than to only give handouts. Like aiming for a change so that we could have a better future with better paying jobs and lower costs of living.
Crotalus: LOL. You’ll have to ask whoever willing to set up such a fund.
u-jean: Yep, you are spot on.