Cutback!

We Malaysian are so fond of cutback. It started sometimes last years with the shortages of sugar. Subsequently, the Government urged the nation to cutback on sugar consumption for health purpose.

Months later, there were shortages of cooking oil and the Government once again urged the nation to cutback on oil consumption for health purpose.

Just two months ago, there were shortages of rice and government once again urged the nation to cutback on rice consumption for the same reason said above.

Today, the cutback syndrome has spread on other items as well. Ever since the prices of petrol hiked up, there has been tremendous suggestion by the government to cutback on unnecessary expenditure.

First were 10% cut down on Cabinet Ministers and state governments allowances including restriction on holiday trips, excursion as well as limitation on escorts; followed by the cut down on courses and excursion (both internal and broad) for government staff and today, I received a memo from my division admin imposing on reduction on wastages on paper by (i) changing font; (ii) printing double sided and (iii) using recycled paper when printing drafts.

Hmmm. It’s rather witty that policies such as "Go Green Planet" or "Recycle" or even "Paperless Government" has failed the government to foresee on the paper wastages before, but mere petrol hike has changed everything.

Even though all these savings are good for the nation, I don’t see how a 10% cutback on administrative cost such as allowances could help government reduce wastages when there are overlooking on the wastages occurring due to increase in civil servant’s employment, maintaining the National Services program, focusing on corridors project and etc. It doesn’t balance up at all.

With all this cutbacks made in the name of savings, the only thing we government servant are not looking forward is 10% pay cut! Dr. M have imposed in the past, I wouldn’t be surprise if Pak Lah follows his guidance.