Change Our Lifestyle?

I find it difficult to agree with the suggestion by the PM to change our lifestyle to combat inflation. I must say that he is not totally correct in his statement. To curb inflation is to curb rampant corruption in Malaysia. As former PM, Tun Dr M did once said that Malaysia's corruption is already rooted in our system that means that our system is not only tainted with corruption but has become part of society.

As such our government and government agencies together with all walks of life must together eradicate corruption in our minds and thought. The government must show every effort to combat corruption. If corruption and maladministration is not controlled, then I dare said we will face inflation in a bigger scale that will affect all walks of live. The change must be within the government themselves.

So if the PM is talking about changing our lifestyle, I think he must first change the lifestyle of the government and it's agencies.

----- taken from The Star

TOKYO: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on Malaysians to change their lifestyle to reduce the impact of rising inflation.

The Prime Minister said he would encourage Malaysians to save more and reduce wastage to ease their burden.

“Some people may not think it is important but a change of lifestyle a little bit in times of difficulty is important,” he said in an interview with the Japanese media after attending the Nikkei International Conference here yesterday.

Abdullah was responding to a question on the possible need for a strong ringgit to offset inflationary pressures.

He admitted that Malaysia was facing a lot of difficulties but the Government was implementing aggressive measures.

“We are developing measures to respond to the inflation we are now experiencing. We have to increase productivity and be more competitive.

“We are also seeking cooperation with other countries in strategic areas like food and agriculture,” he added.

Abdullah, who is also Finance Minister, refuted a report by the US Treasury that the ringgit was undervalued.

“Our ringgit has established its true value. We do not intervene to make the ringgit go up or down, it has established a value which we believe to be realistic,” he said.

“There has been no serious fluctuations or volatility,” he added.

The Treasury report issued before last Friday’s market opened said “a persistently large current account surplus coupled with still-low domestic investment” was evidence that the ringgit was undervalued.

Abdullah also said that everyone, including economists, were free to express their opinions about currencies, including the ringgit.

Later, briefing Malaysian journalists accompanying him for his working visit to Japan, the Prime Minister said that during his meeting with his Japanese counterpart Yasuo Fukuda he spoke on food security and cooperation in agriculture in view of increasing food prices.

“We need to go high-tech where food production is concerned.

“I also said that it would be good if Japan can be involved in the halal food industry, apart from investment in plantation, aquaculture and manufacturing,” he said.

Fukuda, he said, responded positively by encouraging the private sector to participate.