The proposal for the imposition of an additional RM 50.00 in credit card charges in the recent Budget proposal strengthens the need for there to be some action to be taken by the public to prevent the common person to be penalized further by an economy which is increasingly favouring the rich.

Banks have now become the bastions of a cruel form of capitalism, charging extortionary rates for services and then relying on the common man to bail them out whenever they get into a financial crisis – which is caused by their own greed and disregard for the rights of society.

The additional charge of RM50.00 imposed by the government for credit cards is obviously a burden to customers.

Credit cards are largely used by workers who have to compensate for their low wages which is driving millions of Malaysian to live on credit. If, as is now being touted, the next crisis turns out to be a debt crisis, we can expect many people to be bankrupts and further extend the chasm between the rich and the poor. This will only serve to divide society and is certainly not sustainable.

The government should encourage private sector employers to pay a decent living wage to workers and introduce a Cost of Living Allowance which is flexible to meet the constant rise in the standard of living of Malaysians.

The 1 Malaysia concept can only be a reality if there are no discrimination to the millions of workers who are now currently deprived of decent wages and a Cost of Living Allowance. The government should not discriminate the Peninsular Malaysia private sector workers from East Malaysia – as well as the public sector. The nine million private sector workers need to live a decent life with a decent salary and eventually they will be also willing to pay the tax from their salaries.

J Solomon

General Secretary