The current government is definitely out of touch with the people. The opposition does not have to say a word to me to convince me to deplore the government. There is no need for surveys, or ground reports (how high up do the ministers think they are anyway?). Their policies make life difficult enough as it is for us simple folks.

By still keeping the currency fixed, they ensure that my already measly salary is almost worthless to buy almost any imported goods or services. High taxes on cars means even Malaysian-made cars are unaffordable and the fact that Proton can increase prices on car models (Iswara) that are more than eight years old proves that the government is not acting in the public's best interests.

Can't afford a car? So take public transport each day. Just recently, due to (government-approved) increases in fares, I have to pay 60 percent more to use the bus for the same bad service. It takes an hour and a half to get to work, on a slow overcrowded bus at that.

Sometimes the air-conditioner works, and when it doesn't, being on a bus packed with people can get very uncomfortable, very quickly, and it stays that way for the duration of your ride. When it's raining it leaks and a few passengers get wet. Endure this day in and day out, and your level of frustration would be quite high.

When you get to the office, the boss is angry again, because Telekom just overcharged the firm for another RM400 without being able to even give us a detailed printout of the calls. For a government-owned firm that made a billion ringgit profit, an accurate report of usage times for a special service (ISDN) is too difficult to implement. Want to complain about the bill? Well, you can't; if you don't like it they cut you off and there is no alternative to that service.

Now when I get back from home after my long bus ride, I get a note from Pos Malaysia, that customs has taxed my birthday gift from my girlfriend for more than 10 percent of its value. Great, I now have to pay RM135 in taxes and services, for a gift (CD Player) that is finally cleared a week after it arrived. I get taxed more than 10 percent for a gift that's made in Malaysia?

Of course, the customs department was smart enough to ask me to send it a copy of the invoice. I wonder how many people would still have the receipts/invoices of the gifts they received from friends? If I didn't have the receipt, it would be up to their discretion how much to tax me.

I wonder where they got the price reference, as a similar item but much more expensive CD player made and imported from Japan is RM700 at the shops. As with Telekoms, you can't complain; if you don't like it then you don't get it. Well that's lunches for a month and a sizeable portion of my salary to pay for my own birthday gift.

So to the Barisan Nasional ministers, Mentri Besar and members of parliament, the next time you are driven around in your Mercedes (tax/duty-free and paid by us), with the traffic jam cleared out for you, take a look out your tinted window and spare a thought for the people outside.

There are millions of us young Malaysians starting out, who have to endure frustrations day in and day out because of your policies. Stop blaming Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition, foreign elements and everybody else for hating you. Don't expect to be re-elected if you keep treating your voters this way.