Khamis, 4 Oktober 2012

Nurul Izzah Anwar

Nurul Izzah Anwar

Media Statement : Minimum Wage

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 09:35 AM PDT

Media Statement

4 Oct 2012

For Immediate Release

 

Pakatan’s Comprehensive labour policy reforms aim to uplift the nation

The BN Youth Chief clearly needs some lessons macro-economics. While Barisan Nasional Youth can tolerate corruption and wastages to the tune of billions but it is a crime from the BN Youth Chief’s point of view when Pakatan tries to improve workers’ share of national income so that they live a dignified life and contribute to domestic economy as consumers.

Perhaps it is a sign of the time that even Barisan Nasional MPs spend more time talking about Pakatan Rakyat’s Belanjawan 2013 than Prime Minister Najib Razak’s budget proposals.

The latest is Barisan Nasional Youth’s accusation that Pakatann Rakyat’s offering of a minimum wage at RM1,100 will bankrupt companies and ruin the economy. The BN/UMNO Youth Chief called Pakatan’s minimum wage promise “not realistic” and “brainless populism”.

Pakatan Rakyat made its commitment to implement a RM1,100 (total compensation) minimum wage in its 2012 Belanjawan in October 2011, ahead of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s announcement on 30th April 2012.

Why minimum wage?

1) The lack of a minimum wage policy, the dependence on foreign unskilled labour, and  the resulting inability to automate and move up the technological ladder were the key  contributing factors of a stagnated Malaysian economy since the 1990s.

2) Already in Malaysia workers’ share of national income is only 28% while in most developed countries workers share between 40%-55% of national income. There is clearly room to improve the workers’ share of national income.

3) Prime Minister Najib Razak had himself admitted that for Malaysia to continue to grow admist global crisis, domestic economy is the key. Only when workers can afford to consume that we would have domestic demand.

Why BN’s minimum wage is inadequate?

While Pakatan Rakyat welcomed the long overdue announcement of a minimum wage rate at  RM900 for Peninsula Malaysia and RM800 for Sabah and Sarawak by Prime Minister  Dato’ Seri Najib Razak in May 2012, Pakatan Rakyat had warned then that the effective rate amounts  to no change in reality and the policy is implemented in a piecemeal manner.

BN’s minimum wage amounts to very little in reality.  The most important finding that eventually convinced the Najib administration to  implement the minimum wage policy was a Human Resources Ministry study that found  a third of the workers were living with a wage of about RM700, below the poverty line.

The announced minimum wage rate of RM900 for the Peninsula and RM800 for Sabah  and Sarawak is actually inclusive of allowances, which effectively means the basic wage  is still between RM700 and RM800. This means, the purported changes were almost no change at all. Pakatan Rakyat on the  other hand proposed a minimum wage of RM1100 (total compensation).

To be effective, minimum wage policy must not be implemented in isolation and in a piecemeal manner. Pakatan Rakyat recognises that a minimum wage policy that is effective must be  implemented in a package holistically.

Thus, already in October 2011, Pakatan Rakyat in its Belanjawan 2012 proposed that:

a) a clear and determined policy to stop dependence on foreign unskilled labour which  results in a “race to the bottom” in terms of wage;

b) a Facilitation Fund to be set up to help employers including those in the manufacturing  and services industry to automate and to improve on technologies, provide tax breaks as  well as other financial assistance, shall also be considered;

c) to provide for child care and other facilities to facilitate female participation in the  workforce to tap into the total strength of Malaysian workforce.

A holistic policy framework, as proposed by Pakatan Rakyat, will mean more income  and more disposable income for Malaysian workers, which will in turn boost domestic  consumption and drive the growth prospect of the economy.

A final note, we would like Khairy Jamaluddin to join us to demand the Government to declassify the Confidential Report by the World Bank entitled “Optimal Deisgn for a Minimum Wage Policy in Malaysia” dated 28th July 2011.

The World Bank document shows that:

1) Assumming a minimum wage that is higher than RM1,000, the sub-sectors of the manufacturing of paper and furniture, food and beverages, plastic, glass, and transport equipment will see formal employment increasing by up to 1 percent. This increase in formal employment would be accompanied by a small reduction in informal employment.

2) A minimum wage of RM1,100 and up will see the sub-sectors of utilities, construction, trade, and accommodation and restaurants reducing both formal and informal employment for low-skilled workers, who are mostly unskilled foreign labour anyway.

3) Even if the level were set at RM1,200, high value-added services sectors would be least affected.

4) Even set at RM700 level, the low-end manufacturing sectors would still be adversely affected.

The talk of an additional RM200 in minimum wage would bankrupt the companies is simply untrue.

Chua Tian Chang, MP for Batu

Liew Chin Tong, MP for Bukit Bendera

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, MP for Kuala Selangor

Sinar Harian: Bajet 2013 Pusat defisit moral, dakwa Izzah

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 08:17 AM PDT

Salmiah Druhamad Drashin
4 Oktober 2012

Nurul Izzah Anwar
Nurul Izzah Anwar

KUALA LUMPUR –  Bajet 2013 yang dibentangkan oleh Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak minggu lalu merupakan bajet yang menyebabkan negara terus menanggung defisit fiskal dan "defisit moral", kata Naib Presiden PKR, Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai berkata demikian ketika membahaskan ucapan Bajet 2013 di bangunan Parlimen hari ini.

Menurut Nurul Izzah, bajet yang dibentangkan Najib jelas sama sekali meminggirkan generasi muda pada masa hadapan.

Meskipun memberikan beberapa imbuhan pada hari ini, ia bagaimanapun tidak menjamin kehidupan yang lebih baik kepada generasi berkenaan.

"Anak muda dan belia masa hadapan Malaysia tidak memerlukan sumbangan yang berbentuk jangka masa pendek dan sekadar mengisi saku sekali-dua.

"Anak muda mahukan peluang, ruang dan sokongan untuk membina masa depan yang lebih baik – bukan dibeban dengan hutang peribadi dan hutang negara gergasi, kadar gaji yang malar, kuasa membeli hasil matawang yang lemah, harga kereta tinggi, harga rumah diluar kemampuan dan kos sara hidup yang meningkat," katanya.

Menurut beliau, majoriti golongan muda hari ini dibebani dengan kos sara hidup yang melambung tinggi dengan pendapatan yang tidak setimpal.

"Hakikatnya, anak-anak muda terpaksa pasrah dengan peningkatan gaji sebanyak 2.6 peratus berbanding inflasi secara purata 3.2 peratus sejak sepuluh tahun kebelakang.

"Malang, tujuan kerajaan seperti mengumumkan Program Transformasi Ekonomi adalah untuk mengeruhkan lagi herotan sistem sedia ada di mana nisbah gaji pekerja berbanding keuntungan syarikat akan menurun daripada 28 peratus sekarang kepada 21 peratus pada tahun 2020," ujar beliau.

Justeru katanya, Bajet 2013 Kerajaan Pusat hanya langkah jangka masa pendek kerajaan di samping hanya mengkayakan kroni.

"Semenjak 1999, kerajaan BN telah menggunakan bajet defisit setiap tahun yang meletakkan ekonomi negara di tahap paling lemah berbanding negara-negara Asia lain.

"Hutang kerajaan persekutuan akan mencecah lebih 53.7 peratus KDNK atau RM502.4 bilion yang sudah hampir siling yang dibenarkan di bawah undang-undang.

“Tetapi sekiranya kita jumlahkan dengan 'hutang tersembunyi' di dalam bentuk 'contingent liability' kita sudah pun melebihi 65 peratus KDNK,” katanya.

Bahkan menurut Nurul Izzah lagi, bajet yang dibentangkan Najib jelas sekali 'ekonomi prokroni bukan prorakyat' berbeza dengan bajet Pakatan Rakyat yang meletakkan keutamaan rakyat seperti pendidikan percuma kepada generasi pelapis pada masa hadapan.

Katanya lagi, sekiranya kerajaan berani menyahut cabarannya untuk menyenaraikan nama anak-anak atau ahli keluarga menteri dan timbalan menteri (serta nama syarikat-syarikat) yang mendapat projek, tender dan kontrak kerajaan yang melebihi RM5 juta daripada tahun 1998-2012, maka " barulah kerajaan ada hak moral terhadap generasi muda".

Dipetik dari Sinar Harian:

http://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/bajet-2013-pusat-defisit-moral-dakwa-izzah-1.91492

Kenyataan Media Isu GST

Posted: 04 Oct 2012 08:05 AM PDT

Kenyataan Media

2 Oktober 2012

Under Edaran Segera

Kerajaan Tidak Ikhlas Tentang Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST)

Kerajaan Barisan Nasional jelas tidak ikhlas dalam pelaksanaan Cukai Barang dan Perkhidmatan (GST), malah kelihatan seperti menggunakan tipu helah untuk mengaburkan pelaksanaan ini di dalam Bajet 2013 yang baru dibentang minggu lalu.

Menteri Kewangan jelas ingin meyakinkan sektor kewangan bahawa kerajaan persekutuan mampu untuk meneruskan pentadbiran yang dipenuhi ketirisan dan budaya rasuah tanpa melakukan islah dan reformasi yang menyeluruh ke atas struktur ekonomi yang dipenuhi budaya kronisme.

Pada masa yang sama, beliau juga sedar dengan pelaksanaan satu cukai penggunaan yang baru dan menyeluruh ke atas rakyat yang tidak mampu menanggungnya adalah satu langkah yang penuh liku.

Perenggan 80-83 dalam Ucapan Bajet Menteri Kewangan mengandungi kod-kod yang berkata kepada sektor kewangan bahawa pelaksanaan GST amat hampir:

“80. Selain daripada peralihan sistem subsidi pukal kepada subsidi bersasar, kajian semula sistem percukaian kebangsaan akan diteruskan bagi memastikan sistem cukai negara akan lebih menggambarkan kedudukan kewangan setiap isi rumah. Peralihan daripada sistem cukai berasaskan pendapatan kepada sistem cukai yang lebih menyeluruh serta saksama akan pada analisa akhirnya memanfaatkan semua rakyat Malaysia.

81. Langkah ini tidak dilaksanakan secara tergesa-gesa mahupun semberono tetapi setelah kajian teliti dan pelaksanaan penuh tertib. Ia tidak akan mengesankan rakyat terbanyak khususnya golongan berpendapatan rendah serta sederhana kerana perkara-perkara asas sama ada makanan, perumahan mahupun pengangkutan awam akan terus dilindungi.

82. Pelaksanaan struktur baru cukai ini sudah menjadi sebagai satu imperatif nasional bagi memastikan kelestarian sistem kewangan negara terus utuh untuk generasi masa depan Malaysia. Kerajaan tidak akan mengelak dari mengambil tindakan yang betul walaupun ianya penuh liku.

83. Walau bagaimanapun, ruang masa yang mencukupi akan tetap disediakan oleh Kerajaan agar semua pihak dapat membuat persiapan yang sewajarnya. Penerimaan rakyat ke atas inisiatif baru ini akan diperoleh dengan program penerangan, pendidikan serta rundingan secara ekstensif.”

Perenggan 145 pula menunjukkan yang pemotongan 1 peratus cukai adalah berkaitan dengan pelaksanaan GST, yang secara asasnya bermaksud penjimatan yang dinikmati dari pemotongan ini akan akhirnya dibayar balik melalui GST.

“145. Dalam proses peralihan daripada sistem cukai sedia ada yang berasaskan pendapatan kepada sistem cukai yang lebih adil dan saksama, Kerajaan mencadangkan kadar cukai pendapatan individu diturunkan 1 mata peratusan bagi setiap kumpulan pendapatan bercukai tahunan melebihi 2,500 ringgit sehingga 50 ribu ringgit.”

Ucapan Perdana Menteri ini jelas bercanggah dengan kenyataan yang dikeluarkan kabinet beliau. April lalu, apabila ditanya di Parlimen mengenai kaitan antara GST dan TUKAR (Program Transformasi Kedai Runcit) Timbalan Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri, Koperasi dan Kepenggunaan telah mengatakan bahawa “TUKAR tiada kaitan dengan GST.”

Laman web Kementerian tersebut turut menyatakan bahawa objektif TUKAR, sebagai salah satu EPP yang bertujuan memodenkan kedai runcit di bawah NKEA termasuk:

- program membangunkan  kedai-kedai runcit tempatan jenis '’mom and pop’;

- peningkatan tahap kompetitif peruncit dan Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) tempatan;

- usaha-usaha menyediakan peruncit untuk pelaksanaan Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Kenyataan yang bercanggah sebegini adalah percubaan untuk menipu Parlimen, wakil rakyat, dan rakyat Malaysia amnya.

Pakatan Rakyat menentang pelaksanaan GST atas sebab-sebab berikut:

1. Tanpa islah dan reformasi ke atas sistem yang dipenuhi rasuah dan budaya kronisme, Kerajaan tiada hak moral (moral right) untuk melaksanakan apa-apa sistem cukai baru samada GST mahupun apa sahaja;

2. Kerajaan pasca-PRU13 nanti perlu mengambil langkah agar tidak menzalimi golongan menengah dan golongan miskin, tetapi membantu mereka meningkatkan pendapatan dan pendapatan boleh guna demi memastikan kualiti hidup ditingkatkan, serta mereka mempunyai lebih banyak wang agar boleh membantu memacu ekonomi dalam negeri. Jika mereka dicukai, maka pendapatan boleh guna mereka berkurangan.

Kerajaan Barisan Nasional wajib ingat bahawa 60 peratus isi rumah mempunyai pendapatan bulanan kurang RM3,000, yang membolehkan mereka menyertai program Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M). Dengan terlaksananya cukai GST, kumpulan ini terpaksa membayar cukai yang lebih dari apa yang mereka dapat dari BR1M.

Tanggapan bahawa beberapa ratus jenis barangan yang dinikmati golongan miskin tidak dikenakan cukai GST tidak benar kerana pelaksanaan BR1M membuktikan golongan menengah dan miskin merupakan 60 peratus dari keseluruhan penduduk di negara ini. Jumlah ini adalah terlalu besar untuk dikecualikan dari GST.

Kerajaan wajib ikhlas dalam kenyataan-kenyataan yang dibuat mengenai dasar-dasar ekonomi, lebih-lebih lagi apabila berkaitan isu cukai. Untuk berselindung disebalik kod-kod dan kenyataan yang samar adalah satu tindakan yang cukup tidak bertanggungjawab.

Barisan Nasional patut mengangkat isu GST dan membawanya ke PRU yang akan datang dan tanyakan sendiri kepada rakyat Malaysia sama ada mereka akan memilih sebuah Malaysia yang kotor dengan GST, ataupun yang disarankan Pakatan Rakyat: sebuah Malaysia yang bersih tanpa GST.

YB Nurul Izzah Anwar, Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai

YB Liew Chin Tong, Ahli Parlimen Bukit Bendera

YB Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad- Ahli Parlimen Kuala Selangor

 

======================================================================

Media Statement

2 October 2012

For Immediate Release

 

The Government is Insincere about GST

As far as the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) is concerned, the Barisan Nasional has turned lying into an art form in the 2013 Budget.

On the one hand, the Finance Minister desires to assure the financial sector that the federal government has the means to continue to finance wastages and corruption without having to reform the crony infested economic structure.

On the other hand, he is fully aware that imposing a new and blanket consumption tax on a relatively poor population is a path full of challenges.

Paragraphs 80-83 of the Budget Speech by the Finance Minister is a coded signals to the financial sector of the imminent implementation of the GST.

“80. Apart from the transition from bulk subsidies to targeted subsidies, a review of Malaysia’s taxation system will be continued to ensure the taxation system better reflects the household’s financial position. The transition from income based taxation system to a more comprehensive and fair taxation system will eventually benefit the rakyat.

81. The measure will not be implemented hastily but through a thorough study and in an orderly manner. It will not affect the rakyat, particularly the medium and low-income groups as all the basic needs such as food, housing or public transport will always to be protected.

82. Implementation of the new tax tructure is a national imperative to ensure the Government’s finances remain strong for future generation. The Government will not shrink from taking right action although it is challenging.

83. However, the Government will give the sufficient time to all parties to make the necessary adjustment. Public acceptance of this new initiative will be solicited through information programmes, education and extensive consultations.”

Paragraph 145 shows clearly that the 1 percentage point tax cut is part of the GST package, which essentially means whatever one gains from the cut would have to be paid back through the GST eventually.

"145. In the transition process from the current tax system, based on income to a tax system that is fairer, the Government proposes that individual income tax rate be reduced by 1 percentage point for each grouped annual income tax exceeding RM2,500 to RM50,000."

The Prime Minister’s budget speech clearly contradicts those in his cabinet.

Just last April, when queried in parliament on the link between GST and TUKAR (Small Retailer Transformation Programme) the Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism blatantly issued a denial, stating ” TUKAR program has nothing to do with GST.”

This is despite the Ministry’s website stating the following objectives for TUKAR -an EPP that aims to modernise traditional retail stores under the flagship National Key Economic Areas (NKEA):

- developing local traditional sundry shop (mom and pop);

- enhancing the competitiveness of retailers and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs);

- preparing retailers for the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Such double-speak borders on lying and is a clear case of misleading the Parliament and hence the people it represents.

Pakatan Rakyat opposes the implementation of GST on the following grounds, namely,

1. Without addressing systemic corruption and cronyism, the Government has no moral right to impose any new tax whether it is GST or something else;

2. The immediate imperative of the next Government is not to tax the squeezed middle class and the poor more, but to grow their income and disposable income so to ensure dignified lives for them and also for them to have more cash in hand to contribute as consumers to drive the domestic economy. Taxing them will further erode their disposable income.

The Barisan Nasional Government must be reminded that 60 percent of the households live with a monthly income of less than RM3,000, which is why they qualify for Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BRIM). Imposing GST will tax this group more than what BRIM gives them.

The argument that several hundreds of items consumed by the poor would be exempted from GST does not hold water because as the implementation of BRIM shows that the squeezed middle and the poor together made up 60 percent of the population. They  are too big a group to escape, or, to be exempted from, the GST.

The Government must be sincere in its articulation of economic policies, in particular taxation policies. It is highly irresponsible to hide its intention to implement GST behind coded words.

Barisan Nasional should take the GST to the next general election and asks Malaysians whether they want a corrupt Malaysia with GST or Pakatan Rakyat's offer of a clean Malaysia without GST.

Nurul Izzah Anwar, MP for Lembah Pantai

Liew Chin Tong, MP for Bukit Bendera

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad- MP Kuala Selangor

 
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