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Soon our Muslim brothers and sisters will be joining their families and loved ones to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri. And fellow non-Muslim friends will join them too, or perhaps take advantage of the holiday mood with a break.

There are also other reasons to celebrate. The drop in our ringgit is merely a case of being “grossly undervalued”, so says our Number Two man at the helm of the nation’s purse strings.

Let us celebrate because Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan reassures us that our economic factors are perfectly in place.

Let us celebrate because the current inflation rate is only a mere 2.1 percent, unlike in the bad old days when it hit 5.2 percent in 1998. Never mind if you did not suffer or feel the pinch then as much as you do now.

Let us celebrate because the minister further confirms that our national reserves are a whooping RM390.2 billion, unlike 1998 when it was a paltry RM99.4 billion.

Let us celebrate because the ‘endless possibilities’ and ‘a million promises’ have started to roll in, going by the good news given (above).

Oh yes. Let us celebrate, too, for our brothers and sisters in the civil service are also getting a bonus this Raya. Go spend it happily.

But then again, others will say, “Hello, are you out of your mind?”

The Goods and Service Tax (GST) of 6 percent has set prices of goods and services to spiral by some 20 to 30 percent for the consumer. Families have lost hope of how to cut back any more on their daily and monthly expenditures.

Meals at work do not cost RM5 to RM7 each. it is nothing less than RM10 to RM12 for a simple meal of one meat plus two vegetables and glass of iced tea.

Although Hari Raya is less than a month away, the shopping malls are reporting low crowds and that folk are hunting for bargain sale counters in vain. The stacks and stacks of titbits and Raya cookies piling the streets seem to be mostly sitting there, with a reduced frenzy for the items. People are comparing a box of cakes with last year’s price and walking away in disbelief.

The price of petrol has gone up again. That is going to cut into the balik-kampung budgeted plans.

Sending home less this year?

The ringgit is plunging. The Muslim migrant workers from neighbouring Asian countries are balking at the prospect of ending up sending home less this year owing to the less favourable ringgit.

Wonder what Malaysians will celebrate when they return to life in the cities after the end of the coming raya holiday break?

Do not fret, Malaysians. Another minister said that tourists will be descending in droves here owing to a weaker ringgit. Yes lah, in that case let us all give up our normal jobs and jump into the tourist market business to net the foreign money spent here.

Then again another segment will rebut, “What is there to celebrate when our leaders and their appointed mouthpieces are hollering about praying wearing only underwear; about rsexual orientations of royalty; and whatnot?”

In any case, be advised. Our prime minister has just told us that heaven is assured if we stop slandering.

So forget about 1MDB. Forget about the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder. Forget about Mara’s property purchases in Australia. And you will discover that you now have every reason to celebrate.

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