I refer to the letter Credit card tax - a fair solution .

Prime Minister and Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak says that the RM50 tax on a credit card is not too much and was sure that every one could afford the tax.

No, Najib. RM50 may mean very little to you but to many earning a small sum in these trying times, it is a princely sum and the certainly cannot afford it.

He then went on to justify the need for more taxes to fund development and that this credit card tax was one of them. Yes, I agree with you, Najib, that we need funds for development but certainly disagree with you that it must be sourced from the average wage-earners eking out a small earning.

In fact, Najib is asking the rakyat to pay for the government’s past follies. The recent auditor- general’s report indicates that billions have been siphoned off through excessive purchases by government agencies.

Besides that, the Port Klang Free Zone scandal has squandered billons of ringgit from our nation's coffers. As if that is not enough, it was recently revealed that national double-tracking rail project had an overrun of another billion ringgit or two.

When this is all added up, the billions stolen make the estimated credit cards tax to be collected of about RM500 millions look like a paltry sum.

Yes, Najib, it is due to the government’s incompetence and inefficiency that so many billions of ringgit has been plundered illegally. Year in year out, the auditor-general has come out with reports of abuse of power and misappropriation of funds while begging for action be taken against the culprits.

Yet the government did not do this. And now he has the audacity to impose a tax on credit cards to help the government. Nevertheless, I have a solution for you Najib. Instead of taxing the poor rakyat, I propose the followings to raise the extra funds.

Since the follies are caused by the government, it has to pay the price. I suggest that all ministers including your good self as well as deputy ministers and political secretaries take a 30% pay cut. Abolish all the perks and holidaying overseas should be strictly forbidden.

Do away with all your chauffeurs and cut all other unnecessary allowances like for gardeners and laundry. For official visits overseas, travel economy class. After all, these measures should be beyond you and your cabinet’s.

Next to sacrifice their comfort will be MACC. Yes, the MACC's incompetence is a great factor in the losing of these billions. Since they did not perform well as indicated by the heavy losses reported annually, they must bear some sacrifices.

The MACC directors and all the deputy and assistant directors must have their salaries reduced by 25% and the rest of MACC officers by 20%. I believe they will agree to this small sacrifice.

With these measures, I believe the government can save a few hundred millions and thereby spares us the pain of forking out RM50 as credit card tax.