Even with 65pct income tax, we can’t have free education
YOURSAY | ‘Money poured into tax may not make its way to financing education.’
PM: Higher taxes for free education, are M'sians ready?
Kingfisher:
PM Najib Razak, stop the indulgent waste of your administration (executive jets, large cabinet, notorious 1MDB, etc) and the rampant fiscal abuses (as evidence, for example, from the auditor-general's annual report) before you even speak of such suggestions.
Frivolous threat, if true, is not becoming of a true statesman. And many Malaysians may not be aware that there is no rampant corruption in Norway and Sweden and its social instruments of income support for the population as whole is one of the finest in the world.
Paradise: Get rid of corruption and financial mismanagement and you will save billions of ringgit. You don't have to raise taxes.
Kawak: Another less intelligent statement by our PM. Most of the Scandinavian countries are the least corrupted nations with lowest crime rate.
Although they had high income taxes, the money collected were put into good use for the social benefits of its citizens. In Malaysia, taxpayers' money are being stolen, misused and mismanaged.
Evensteven: There is no need to compare Scandinavian countries with Malaysia. The people there pay high taxes but they are taken care of from womb to tomb.
They don't complain too much because they feel they have got their money's worth and there's very little corruption.
Malaysia is a resource rich country but its governance is so bad and corrupt that we are as leaky as a fishing net.
Quigonbond: It’s no point having free education in Malaysia and taxpayers get taxed dearly when the education system is in shambles.
Money poured into tax may never make its way to financing education.
Anonymous 2316631438319659: Nothing comes free in a developing nation. It's not fair for the government. And it would be taxing for the government to eradicate poverty if the education is free.
Hplooi: @Anon_2316631437319659, Malaysia is a resource-rich country. That's why despite losing billions previously, our country did not go bankrupt (if you don’t understand, google 'resource-curse' and you will find that we are in the company of Congo, Angola, etc).
Our government delivery system is so ‘leaky’ that increasing revenue, through taxes or exploiting natural resources (mainly oil), will not improve education or achieve a better quality of life for our citizens.
If we can just improve governance, especially the humongous leakage, I can guarantee that we can abolish PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund) and even Goods and Services Tax and institute free higher education for everyone.
Not surprisingly, the need to scrap the bottom of the barrel for more revenue is now on the table. And the Malaysian taxpaying public is now the target.
With the usurious burden from 1MDB and past financial mismanagement, the chicken is truly coming home to roost.
Besides, if the RM2.6 billion ‘donation’ was optimally spent (instead of ending up in a private account), the target of universal free education would not have been a pipe dream.
What about the original plan that the implementation of the consumption tax (GST) will bring lower personal tax?
NewMalaysia: Why don't I see any people from Scandinavian countries flocking to Malaysia despite they can pay lower income tax over here? Yet more and more educated and bright young Malaysians are relocating to these countries?
It’s not only free education that matters, but the country’s social welfare. For example, free and affordable healthcare, high income, safety, good infrastructures, justice, no corruption, no discrimination, no marginalisation, strong currency, quality of life and food, sense of pride - all that play an important aspect in life.
But Najib wouldn't understand that because he need not sweat a single day working like every ordinary citizen as he is the son of former PM Abdul Razak Hussein. And he can get RM2.6 billion donation into his private bank account.
Guyintheglass: Najib, I am prepared to pay higher taxes for free education provided you (1) revamp the education policy and stop lowering the standards, and (2) be transparent with your expenditure and stop all those off-budget spending.
For example, Petronas money should be kept in reserves for our long-term future, not your expense account.
If you want to compare us with the Scandinavian countries, please do a total comparison, not pick and choose what you want to compare.
Anonymous_1423808262: It has definitely crossed Najib's mind to increase income tax to 65 percent.
All his 1MDB's financial woes will be solved. Not only that, it will prosper with a massive fund injection.
By 2020, 1MDB will be the richest sovereign fund in the world. Najib is definitely mulling that option rubbing his hands in glee now in New York.
Doc: If Malaysians pay 65 percent income tax like in the Nordic countries, we will still not have free education.
What we will have is Najib with US$7 billion in his Ambank account.
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