YOURSAY | “Do not ask the people for a blank cheque, then say the account is empty.”

PM recognises cost-of-living pressure, but says govt can't help everyone

MS: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, there is much you can do, but you won’t. Stopping the multiple pensions of politicians and their well-heeled enablers and lackeys would be a start. But you won’t.

Eliminating waste in the overweight civil service by ceasing the so-called special allowances, salary increments, and putting a freeze on hiring would go a long way.

Directing all highway concessionaires to cease toll collection for the next two years as a form of national service would bring relief to millions.

But you won’t. And yes, confiscating the ill-got wealth of those convicted by the courts for looting, as well as those whose charges were dropped, will replenish the coffers.

PinkJaguar7289: The people did not vote for a government to recognise their suffering from a podium; they voted for leaders to reduce it.

Saying “we cannot help everyone” may be fiscally honest, but politically, it sounds like surrender after years of election promises.

The cost of living cannot be swept under the carpet with slogans, selective aid, and clever explanations. If subsidies are too costly, show clearly where the money is going, cut waste, stop leakage, and make the rich, cartels, and cronies pay their share.

A government that wants everyone’s vote cannot later tell ordinary people that not everyone can be helped. Do not ask the people for a blank cheque, then say the account is empty.

GP2025: What kind of prime minister is this who publicly declares that his government cannot help everyone?

Another proof that he has no idea what government means.

A government is supposed to help everyone - unless, of course, it is an appointed government that only helps those who appointed it and whoever else they like.

What is worse is that our MPs tolerate this.

PurpleMoose5046: Start sharpening your knife and cut these out:

- Politicians (state assemblypersons, MPs, ministers, senators)

- Executive positions

- The 238 political appointments to federal statutory bodies and government-linked companies, including listed companies like Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Telekom Malaysia

- No more giving more than one pension

These are some of the ways to plug the financial leakages happening in the government.

GraySalmon8323: Will this result in the collapse of Malay-Muslim businesses that survive on procurement from government-linked companies (GLCs)?

Is this why companies like Felda Global Ventures and IJM are not allowed to be sold to private enterprises?

These entities exist not only to support bumiputera employment, but also for lucrative procurement and endless taxpayer-funded bailouts.

State enterprises are disgraceful, with politically appointed, clueless, and incompetent directors. Their only currency is the privilege of licences and contracts, but they lack business acumen.

Nothing has changed in 40 years despite clear failures.

Variant: You can help by putting in place policies for all government departments and GLCs to purchase from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) where those facilities are located.

Eighty percent of all procurement (except for defence/national security) should go to SMEs. This will ensure money flows directly into all the little towns and communities across the federation.

FellowMalaysian: I wonder why Anwar believes he needs to help everyone or alleviate all their economic problems.

Madani is doing more than it can chew. The Budi RON95 subsidies are already costing the government a humongous RM4 billion a month.

That is, besides other B40 and M40 aid such as the Rahmah Necessities Aid and Budi Madani initiatives. The big question is how long Madani can survive when current subsidies are clearly beyond the country’s sustainable capacity.

GrayParrot9290: Anwar thinks he is brave to acknowledge problems publicly and that the rakyat will understand.

What he will get instead is total agreement - from all these comments - that his Madani government has failed.

Once bitten, twice shy. No more PKR in the 16th general election.

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