It is never enough, it seems - especially when one is consumed by greed. Aliran is disturbed that Pos Malaysia has decided to increase postal rates despite sitting prettily on a huge cash stockpile and earning sizeable profits.

This privatised firm actually has an astounding three-quarters of a billion ringgit stashed away in cash or near-cash assets. In addition, Pos Malaysia is believed to earn some RM90 million ringgit annually in commissions for acting as a collection agent for bill payments on behalf of various firms.

Not surprisingly, Pos Malaysia posted a net profit of RM 61 million for the nine months ended September 2004 - an increase of more than 40 per cent from the corresponding period in the previous year. It is projected to earn a net profit of close to RM100 million this year based on existing postal rates.

Union Network International's Postal News (Issue 7, 2003) reported the following significant development: 'In May 2001 the news shook the postal world, i.e. the (Malaysian) government decided to sell out its majority shares to Phileo Allied, a financial company.

'It was the first case that the shares of public postal corporation were sold out to a private banking company.' It further noted: 'Currently, the government owns 30% shares and employees of Pos Malaysia own 15% shares. 54% shares are owned by Phileo Allied, which changed the name to Pos Malaysia & Services Holding Bhd. They are the owner'.

The Edge Daily (Aug 11, 2004) observed this of the now-restructured Pos Malaysia: 'one can't help note the company's own propensity to hoard. In this case, a huge pile of cash. Pos Malaysia is one government-linked company (GLC) that runs a monopoly that's more secure than the Queen's crown jewels'.

Yes, this is what happens when you have a privatised monopoly with no competition - consumers are at their mercy.

This is why Aliran has called for an open hearing whenever private monopolies like Pos Malaysia want to hike their rates. Such a hearing would allow consumer groups and others to inspect the firms' books. The privatised monopolies would be made to justify their proposed tariff increases while public views would be taken into consideration.

As things stand, the government appears to be approving tariff hikes without consulting the public; it seems to be representing the interests of privatised monopolies and not those of the public at large. Is this what the rakyat expects after giving the ruling coalition such a huge mandate in the last general election?

If Pos Malaysia wants to automate and improve its efficiency, fine; it should find other ways to encourage consumers to conform to standard mail sizes (to make it easier for mail to be processed by machines). And it should be thinking of passing on some of the savings from improved efficiency to the consumers - not making them pay more!

The postal rates for standard mail for the public may be unchanged - but this is only because this sector is shrinking given the increased use of handphones and e-mail. The public will still have to pay more for international mail.

What's more, postal rates for business mail have soared and inevitably the costs will be passed on to the public. Even NGOs like Aliran will be heavily burdened. At present, Aliran pays 35 sen in postal charges for each Aliran Monthly ("printed matter" category), weighing 60-65 grammes, mailed to subscribers. From March 1, 2005, it appears that we will now have to pay 50 sen in postal charges (under the new 'periodical' classification) - a whopping 43 per cent hike!

Inevitably, Aliran Monthly will be forced to increase its subscription rates. If a non-profit NGO like ours has no choice but to raise prices, what more businesses, banks, credit-card companies and lawyers' firms, many of which will not hesitate to pass on their higher postal costs to consumers one way or another.

It is interesting to note that Pos Malaysia's managing director/CEO Ikmal Hijaz Hashim was formerly the president of the UEM Group property division and concurrently held the managing director's positions of Renong Berhad and its subsidiary, Prolink Development Sdn Bhd.

He also sits on the board of Faber Group Berhad as the designated director as well as at other major subsidiaries namely, Faber Development Holdings Sdn Bhd, Faber Hotel Holdings Sdn Bhd and Faber Medi-Serve Sdn Bhd and other UEM Group property-related private limited companies.

Ikmal was also the Plus managing director from 1995 until 1999. Many Malaysians would probably be familiar with these firms, especially Plus, the company that keeps on hiking highway toll rates .

In November 2004, The Edge reported: 'Pos Malaysia's profitability continued to improve at a faster rate than turnover, signaling a continuation of improving cost efficiencies'.

So why raise postal rates, especially when the firm is sitting on a huge cash stockpile and running a profitable operation? Is it any wonder that many Malaysians are so against the privatisation of healthcare, highways, water and other basic amenities?