I nearly fell off the end of my chair when I read that DAP had launched an 8-point manifesto, which incidently coincided with Barisan Nasional’s manifesto launched by the prime minister on Feb 25.

Promising eight points in putting forward a RM40 billion Stimulus Economic Plan, DAP had all the nice trimmings of good ole St Nicholas riding down the chimney in a reindeer-drawn sleigh. Similarly, PAS has also said it would create a welfare state in addition to establishing an Islamic state which borders on theocracy should it seize federal power. But both DAP and PAS have failed to prepare a solution for the most important question. Where will they raise the funds to achieve this multi-billion welfare state policy?

Eradication of poverty has to be conducted through the formulation of programmes where the rakyat are encouraged to be economically sufficient thereby becoming financially independent. Simply dishing out money to families whose household incomes fall below RM6,000 each month would discourage the rakyat from upgrading their skills nor aim for higher. Some would be contented with surviving on handouts for the rest of their lives.

And to supply each individuals with RM 3000 per year, is also dysfunctional in that DAP is discouraging couples from marrying because by remaining single, they stand to take home RM3000 for oneself, rather than RM6,000 to be used for all family members.

To add to the idiocy of DAP’s so-called Economic Stimulus Plan, even if couples were romantically inclined, they would opt to remain single ‘officially’ just to be entitled to the RM3, 000 per individual. Hence, Malaysia can look forward to a breakdown of family values and more promiscuity happening as experienced in western welfare states.

Malaysians will also be discouraged from producing more children. From a larger picture, our Chinese population is only 26% presently and the birth rate of the Chinese is low, usually, only two children per nuclear family. It is expected that the Chinese Malaysian population will drop to 22% in five years’ time.

Malaysians will also have to contend with an aging population exceeding the employed population which would likely result with an economic slowdown. Already some Malaysian rural areas are beginning to experience an aging population when the youths leave the kampung to seek employment opportunities elsewhere, thus the fear that these kampung will eventually be rendered ghost towns. Will the opposition ‘s welfare state policy be able to generate income with the bearish run that comes with an aging population which originally stemmed from very low birth rates?

On another hand, as experience has shown from certain countries which practise a welfare state, when too many handouts are given, the people grow lazy and don’t want to work. Personal income tax too is steep (almost 50% compared to the maximum 28% in Malaysia) to pay for all the subsidies. Are Malaysians looking forward to a major income tax hike with all these goodies meant to garner votes? Economic Stimulus Plan? Welfare state? Sounds more like rules for economic meltdown.

In the first place, why does DAP even come up with an Economic Stimulus Plan when it can’t even form a government? It doesn’t contest in enough seats to make up two-thirds of Parliament. DAP will contest in only 47 Parliamentary seats which accounts for only 21% of the 222 seats. How can DAP deny BN a two-thirds majority?