The proposed privatisation of Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) was not deliberated with the consideration of the basic survival of the poor and middle-class people in Malaysia. The poor and middle-class would be affected badly if IJN becomes private.

Already, the poor and middle-class cannot cope with the high prices of food due to the disproportionate remuneration one receives in Malaysia.

It is a well-known fact that our remuneration does not correspond to the high cost of living in Malaysia and cannot keep up with the steep rise of inflation. Many people believe that the breakeven point for a family of four to barely survive is now RM3,000. But how many of us actually earn that amount of money?

What is rather shocking is the fact that when you go to any supermarket, you can now see a security guard in the milk aisle/section. The guard used to be guarding the liquor section previously, as liquor was the more expensive commodity.

The other day, I had the urge to ask the guard why he was guarding the milk section now and shockingly he said, there were many thefts. According to the guard, people were now stealing milk instead of other things.

When a society degrades and is forced to steal milk due to dire need, it is a clear sign that the society will eventually crumble. People do not steal milk out of joy or to satisfy their desires or wants but it is a mere act of survival. Most likely, the milk is used to feed starving children or babies. In most countries, people do not steal milk.

These are early indications that a large proportion of Malaysians are ‘priced out’ of living in Malaysia and some have to resort to stealing basic necessities merely to survive.

When basic needs are not even met, how can one be thinking of the privatisation of essental healthcare, namely the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN)?