By Sarawakian
SIX months have just ended for the year 2025. The year of the snake has nearly gone halfway in the Chinese Calendar, yet we see some slithery ongoings around us.
My kopi seems to be rather cold and bitter nowadays at my favourite kopitiam in Taipan. I think that the whole mood nowadays seems to be rather discomforting.
I was having a chat with my fellow elders, and we could not help but continue to reminisce about the past 20 years and how Subang Jaya had changed. Politically, it has become no different than it was before the change of political beliefs.
Many of us believed that we had done all we could to help put people in power with the hope that promises would be realized. It has been bittersweet as we felt that today, it seems we are back to square one. We are now tired. Let us just leave this to the generation who would live through this mess. They deserve what we experience now as not many seemed to remember the sacrifices we made.
Politicians are humans and with that, it also means that power will corrupt your minds and beliefs. We hoped but hope has been spat out onto our faces today. So much for asking as we would be riddled with countless excuses about procedures and policies. No one cares. People in power just love power. Even our mood has been subdued to a feeling of defeat. Are we defeated? Not really. Just tired as we cannot continue to fight against injustice and oppression alone and without the new generation continuing for further improvement. One cannot be comforted with being as is.
Twenty years ago, we all rose up to the needs of Subang Jaya. We wanted more trees and better fields. We wanted better public facilities and an effectively managed bicycle lane. You do not see much happening around central Subang Jaya. It is not as rosy in other locations under the jurisdiction of MBSJ. Subang Jaya is now a city but rather far away from being safe and clean.
We have had enough political promises as everyone elected would always have to thread the party line. So much for being a representative of the people who voted for the person. You would find this excuse used repeatedly or do a bit to show that something is being done without a strong follow-up.
The global tariff war has not yet found a conclusion and the current war and terrorist attacks around the world does not make things any more positive.
I wonder if my kopi will be more expensive soon as the coffee beans are currently imported mostly from Indonesia, Vietnam and South America or Africa. Malaysia only grows a bit of coffee, and it is of the Liberica version. Robusta and Arabica are mostly imported.
I am not sure if the so-called targeted SST would affect prices for kopi, but I am sure somehow or rather, prices would go up. Maybe it is part of essential goods. It remains unclear.
We found it amusing that our Prime Minster or PMX seemed to have a sense of humour. First, he called the GST, The General Service Tax. I did not know it is now called that. I thought it was Goods and Services Tax. That was set to zero and this system still exists since 2018. He also had a remark about bananas and avocado and seem to refer to those with the ability to purchase are rich and should pay. So, with the T20, M40 and B40…it is good economics to ask the T20 to foot the bill.
Most of us found it also amusing when we could spend nearly half a million ringgit to send a delegation of 7 including our ex-PM to Japan for the annual Nikkei conference. That is a lot of money if you really look at flights and accommodation.
I guess from now onwards, we would see that all government events would no longer use imported goods and serve imported food. I guess this would be good for the local producers. Then again, can we get clarification if the ingredients to make the food would be treated as such?
This would make nasi lemak a dish made up of imported ingredients. Rice, onions, shallots and spices are mostly imported. Some would be designated as essential goods whilst some are not. The list is still rather vague. The same goes to vegetables, bananas, pineapples, mangosteen, corn, mangoes….and the list goes on.
Malaysia has not yet been able to plant enough fruits and vegetables to sustain the demand. Your roti canai, thosai and naan have imported ingredients. Same with your dhal. Flour would not attract the new tax as it was designated as one of the essential goods.
Avocados? These are also available varieties grown locally in Sabah, but do we have enough? The same with seafood. Even sardines are canned in Thailand when you look at the label. Canned mackerel would also be in question. It would be better for government events to have lesser refreshments instead to save the rakyat’s money. All this makan-makan and minum-minum must stop.
At this time of writing, updated news has started to come in as the Minister of Finance backtracks and used the reasoning that they have listened to rakyat. So now, apples, oranges, mandarin oranges and dates would be exempted from SST. This exemption would also cover services like manicure, pedicure, facial, hair dressing and barbers. Is this the new way of making decisions? Whack first and then react so it could be a good public relations stunt.
On the bright side, I think we can take a sense of humor given to us nowadays. Politicians today want to be like KOLs. They need to have content to entertain you. Perhaps it is time to wonder whether age does make one less mature. Until the next election, we can only watch and enjoy the entertainment.
On the level of Subang Jaya, we still think that there are too many cars now in Subang Jaya. It is becoming to be a nightmare in the mornings and late afternoons through the evenings. There is a need for better foot paths to and from the LRT stations and better bus stops and punctual bus services.
We still think that pedestrian facilities are still not up to mark in Subang Jaya. Take a walk and use the buses and you would understand. The stretch from Taipan to the LRT station has near 80% of the covered walkway not lighted at night.
For now, let us enjoy our 2nd cup of lukewarm kopi as the temperature has risen a bit but not enough to make it as hot as we wanted due to the downcast mood. If you want to try something different to feel rich? Have an Avocado.
