KUALA LUMPUR: The restructured fuel subsidy scheme will see the removal of subsidy on diesel first.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad said diesel would soon be sold at the market rate at the pumps when a mechanism to deliver subsidies directly to those entitled has been decided upon. [Subsidy on diesel to go first, says Shahrir. The Star. April 25 2008]
It might be too early to celebrate but Mr. Shahrir is fast becoming my favorite minister.
From the look of it, many of the planned huge government expenditures are not going to happen any time soon. Where are these Keynesians now, I wonder?
For the uninitiated, one hallmark of Keynesian economic policy is the encouragement of government expenditure, especially during times of low economic activities. The rationale is that these spendings would rejuvenate a faltering economy back on its feet through the famed multiplier effect.[1]
At this moment of uncertainty in the Malaysian economy, Keynesians everywhere would more or less give one prescription: more government spending. After the announcement of the Ninth Malaysia Plan, I had expected that the policy would be impressed upon even harder on the Malaysian leadership by Keynesians. Yet, we might be seeing a roll back on government spending.[2][3]
Keynesians, where art thou to stop these rollbacks?
[1] — See spending multiplier at Wikipedia.
[2] — KUALA LUMPUR: The nine-month delay in the Penang second bridge project is due to problems in land acquisition, design and rising cost, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. [Second bridge delay due to costs and design issues. The Star. April 23 2008]
[3] — KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Reuters) – Malaysia has shelved plans for a bullet train linking its capital to neighbouring Singapore because of the cost, a top planning official said on Tuesday. [Malaysia drops Singapore bullet train project. Reuters. April 22 2008]
The flags of tyranny shamelessly flew over the MERDEKA Square.
MERDEKA means independence.
Read Kuala Lumpur for a Free Tibet for the background story.
I took that photo four years ago while I was still in Ann Arbor. And I miss the Tree Town so much.
You could see the exact tree which the plate is placed under at Google Map.
Go to Kuala Lumpur for a Free Tibet for the latest update.
Update — I was physically harassed by volunteers from the People’s Republic of China. I was treated so because I disagreed with them. Peaceful dissent was forcefully silenced. These thugs from the PRC brought their un-free culture to Malaysia. I shall write a detailed account later when I am free. In the meantime, Kuala Lumpur for a Free Tibet has the account of the event and some photos of a friend being assaulted by these violent thugs.