Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Malaysia. Show all posts

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Car Prices In Malaysia

Posted by Syed Akbar Ali
Digest this article, after that, you may need to vomit. What is the Malaysian Govt doing all these while. Ripping off our Rakyat for the last 30 yrs with APs designed to benefit a few  well connected Bumis, the UMNO/BN have robbed millions of citizens in this fiasco, under the pretext of protecting our local industry. The Govt have forgotten we Malays are the largest customers in the country. What is the NEP policy doing ?? Ripping off the Malays (which forms 65% of the consumer base) to benefit a few UMNO politicians !!!   

BMW 535i
sells for RM178,000 in the US
In the United States of America
(a developed country which we are also aspiring to become by the year 2020) a 2009 model BMW 535i Sedan is selling for about USD50,367.00. This is only RM178,000 - about the price of a Toyota Camry 2..4L here in Malaysia .
The same BMW sells in Malaysia for about RM450,000.
BMW 328i
sells for RM155,000 in the US
The 2009 model BMW 328i 2 door Convertible sells for USD44,014 or RM155,36900 in the US
In Malaysia the same car sells for over
RM460,000.
This is an untenable situation.
Audi A4 2.0T Cabriolet Convertible
sells for RM142,000 in the US
The 2009 model Audi A4 2 Door 2.0T Cabriolet Convertible sells in the US for USD40,328.00 or RM142,357.
In Malaysia the same car would sell for about RM265,000.
VW GTI 2.0T
sells for RM85,000 in the US
In the US the 2009 model Volkswagen GTI 2.0T sells for USD 24,039 or RM85,000 only.
In China the same car will cost around RM60,000. Over here the same VW car sells for about RM200,000.
And the 2010 model
Toyota Camry 2.4L sells in the US for USD 19,659...00 or RM69,396 In Malaysia the2008 Toyota Camry 2.4L sells for RM170,000. Toyota Camry 2.4L, 2010 model. RM69,000 in the US
Car prices in Malaysia are about three times higher than the prices in the United States .
We are a developing nation. Our land and labour costs are so much cheaper than the US . Why are our cars so expensive? It does not make any sense. Tak masuk akal.
Then here are some car prices from our neighbour Indonesia
.
The
Toyota Altis sells in Indonesia for about RM46,000. The same car sells here for around RM 112,000.Again we are three times more expensive than Indonesia
The Honda Jazz sells here for RM108,000
.. In Indonesia the Jazz sells for RM 36,000. Three times more expensive.
We are paying ridiculously high prices (and actually impoverishing the Malays - who are the largest buyers of cars in Malaysia ) to support an out of date, out of touch with reality motor car policy.

We are paying the highest car prices in the world to support the Proton and other locally made cars as well as support a mind boggling AP policy which only benefits a relatively few rich Malays
. A disproportionately large number of Malays and other Malaysians are
being impoverished to subsidise the wealth of a few inefficient rich.
26 million Malaysians have to pay three times more for their cars just to support Proton and 120,000 people who are directly and indirectly involved in the motor sector in Malaysia and the AP holders. That is a ratio of 216:1.

This ratio of 216:1 is too skewed. 26.0 million happier people can contribute many more votes than 120,000 members of an inefficient motor industry.. 26 million unhappy people can change a Government. (The maths is not really difficult here)

And this outdated policy is impoverishing the Malays more than anyone else.

Here is some news from our DPM Tan Sri Muhyudin Yassin about our car policy. This is truncated:
Muhyiddin assures govt support for automotive parts and component sector
1. KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 - The deputy prime minister said special focus will be given to "facilitate and encourage" the development of the automotive parts and component sector despite the current global and regional economic downturn.
2. "Under the CEPT and Asean Trade in Goods Agreements, Malaysia has agreed to eliminate import duties on all products in the Normal Track on January 1, 2010. This includes motor vehicles, auto parts and components," he said.
3. He pointed out that the motor vehicle sub sector in Malaysia will not be directly impacted because of its heavy dependence on the domestic market.
4. "The Malaysian government recognises the contribution of the domestic automotive industry towards the development of the country."
Para 2 sounds promising but then Para 3 and 4 basically says that the Malaysian motor car industry will continue to be protected. This means we will continue paying the highest car prices in the world for automobiles.
Cuba kita kira : kalau kereta Honda Jazz di jual dengan harga yang sebenarnya (lebih kurang RM36,000 saja) dan bukan pada harga sekarang (RM108,000) maksudnya bayaran bulanan pembeli kereta akan jadi kurang, mungkin sepertiga sahaja daripada bayaran bulanan sekarang.
Jika sekarang orang bayar RM1,500 sebulan untuk beli Honda Jazz, kalau harga kereta lebih menepati harga pasaran dunia, orang kita perlu bayar sekitar RM500 saja sebulan.
Maksudnya tanpa Kerajaan perlu membuat apa pun (merangsang ekonomi, belanja berpuluh billion Ringgit duit rakyat untuk stimulus dan sebagainya) setiap rakyat Malaysia yang membeli kereta yang seharga dengan Honda Jazz akan dapat menjimatkan sehingga RM1,000 sebulan daripada kos sara hidup bulanannya.
This is like giving the car buyer an RM1000 pay rise without incurring any extra costs for the taxpayer, the Government or the economy. It will greatly reduce the cost of living in Malaysia and spur greater economic growth too.
Tapi sekarang, yang menjadi mangsa dulu dan yang menjadi miskin dulu orang Melayu juga. Orang Melayu yang paling ramai sekali menjadi pembeli kereta dalam negara kita. Orang Melayu kebanyakannya makan gaji - tiap bulan dapat gaji tetap. Bila harga kereta naik gila, yang menjadi miskin di saf depan sekali adalah orang Melayu juga.

In absolute numbers, the Malays are suffering the most because they are the most in number among the fixed income people who also buy cars.

Some folks said the other day that Proton has 150 major component suppliers, dealers, distributors and about 500 other parts suppliers too. Of the 150 major component suppliers, about 15 of them are listed companies. In total they employ about 120,000 people. The Proton supply chain is a mix of bumiputras and non bumiputras. But here is a sad fact : none of them are operating at their level best efficiency.

Our motor car policy is forcing Malaysians to subsidise Proton so that Proton can sustain major inefficiencies in the Malaysian economy.. This is not a good thing at all.

We have to unwind this situation. Set a target of 18 months from now to unwind all protection for our motor industry. Remove the impoverishing AP policy also in 18 months. Let Malaysian car prices reflect world market prices for the same makes of cars.
If a BMW 535 sells for RM178,000 in America , it should sell for a little less here in Malaysia (our rentals and salaries are cheaper). Fw: Car Prices In Malaysia
The Ministers continue making pronouncements about the car industry as though nothing has happened. I hope everyone will please wake up. The Government has a real chance of getting thrown out of office in about three years. The people will not accept inept answers anymore.
The ridiculous car prices in Malaysia is an issue that is just beginning to get more attention and publicity. It is going to become a really big issue in the near future. Be forewarned.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Fwd: Wake up Call - An article from Sin Chew

The moment when dream is awakend...
I wonder you feel the same as me, all the sudden I realized friends and
relatives around me seems to get less and less.
Those years when the New Year drew near, all sorts of gathering
appointments almost completely filled the diaries, but this year seems so
quiet.
Even in normal time, phone calls become less and less, face to face meet up
also become much less.
Perhaps, everybody is busy with their own things, or perhaps, nowadays
people prefer to stay in.
However, it is not entirely like this, thinking further, actually old
friends and relatives are not around any more. God bless, they are still
alive and well, they just left the country, Malaysia.
They have gone to China to set factory; Ah Wang quit his engineer job and
migrated to Australia to set up his little food store business, Ah Fong
left the local University went to Hong Kong as a lecturer. 'Frog' went to
Taiwan to pursue his second career life. Others went to Americia, England,
even Indonesia...
At first, I thought these are individual cases, but gradually, people
around me realized the same, these are not individual cases but a general
symptoms of our society. they are not small numbers but the pretty big
indeed.
Department of Foreign Affairs released the figures earlier, it confirmed
the situation is real.
From March 2008 thru September 2009, a total of 300,000 Malaysian migrated
to other countries, among them 200,000 left between Jan - Aug 2009. (in 8
months)
Cummulatively, there are 2 million Malaysian migrated, this figure is close
to the number of Indonesian workers in Malaysia today.
The difference are, those migrated are mostly professional and middle class
people.
They have many reasons to leave: pursue career development, for the future
of their children, in search of better life and environment... In one
sentence, they lost hope of Malaysia.
50 years ago people said: Malaysia is very good, better than Hong Kong and
even Japan.
30 years ago people said: Malaysia is not bad, comparable to S. Korea and
Taiwan. (No mention of Hong Kong and Japan any more).
20 years ago people said: Malaysia can do la, at least better than China
and Thailand (Cannot compare with Taiwan and Korea lah)
10 years ago people said: No matter how bad Malaysia is, cannot be worse
than Vietnam and Indonesia ko-ah. (China is already in a different category
/much growth ).
Today, the economic growth rate of Vietnam and Indonesia already far
exceeded Malaysia, Social activity and intellectual development of the
country is also better, the gap between us and them is closing up.
Why worry? There are still Philippines, Cambodia and Myanmar behind us.
However, according to an economist who recently surveyed Phillipines, he
think in 20 years' time, Malaysia can replace Phillipines to become the
World exporter of Malaysian maids.
Over half the century, Malaysians live in the big old imperial housing
complex, closed up and survive on properties left behind by the ancestor;
continue to consume up social resources, wasteful, and drive away talents;
they never talk about competitiveness, totally neglect productivity, and
hate meritocracy.
When Asia economic storm hit in 1997, Malaysia closed their doors, thinking
we beautifully avoided a disaster, they even think of themselves as genius,
being able to handle the situation so well.
However, just look at other countries in our neighbourhood, they stand up,
face the storm, and walk out of the storm. They overhaul the system,
improve the processes and march forward, they moved up to a new level. And
Malaysia, still walking on the spot.
It's time to wake up! We are very very late now!....

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Fw: Bukit Aman scam

This just happened a few minutes ago. Somebody by the name of Inspector Chew King Hwa from Bukit Aman had called my husband's hand phone looking for me saying that I was implicated in some money laundering cases (I really wished that I had those money). He gave a contact number which was 03-2262 6222.
When I checked online, it is true that the number belongs to Bukit Aman HQ. So I called using my office phone to the number and I was told by the operator at the Bukit Aman HQ that there is a syndicate with inside people from Celcomand Telekom which is running these scams. They offer to settle your case outside and ask for money to bank into certain accounts. The operator said everyday the Bukit Aman HQ receives 40-50 calls from the public, people like me asking for verification. Bukit Aman said they will change their phone number soon because of this scam.
The clever thing about this group is that, when they call you on your hand phone, the number shown would be 03-2262 6222.
I guess if you call this number from hand phone, or directly pressing on the number received on your hand phone without re-keying in the numbers again through the keypad, you will reach the syndicate as they must have manipulated either the caller identity and created a fake line with the insiders' assistance from Celcom/ Maxis/Digi. But if you call the same number using land line (Telekom) as I did, only will you be able to reach the real Bukit Aman HQ.
So it looks like the con men are also getting smarter. But you can straightaway tell from the way the caller speaks, that he is not very educated and hence not likely to be of the caliber of an officer.
Hope you will tell your family and friends.

I think they target the Chinese.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Fw: What is AP?

 

Toyota Estima Emina 2.4 Latest Edition.

5 Doors, Automatic, MPV, Petrol, 49,000 miles, Pearl White, 02 Reg year 2002, Air Conditioning, Anti-Lock Braking System, Central Locking, Compact Disc Player, 8 Seats, Electric Mirrors, Electric Windows, Adjustable Seat Height, AdjustableSteering Column, Air Bag, Alarm,

£8595

but this car will sell for RM 160,000 in KL.
But £1 = RM 4.794
£ 8595 = RM 41,204.

AP profit  =  RM100,000 per car -
Imagine when you have only 100 APs = RM10,000,000.
Making Millions in just one year.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Fw: About EPF... must read...

If ONE (1) of our Nominee in the EPF Nominees list deceased, automatically the whole arrangement (EPF Nominees list) is VOID. Meaning if, you only put in One (1) name & unfortunately he/she dies before you – automatically EPF will channel your EPF money to trustee of AMANAH RAYA upon your death.

Thus if, you DO have few names in the EPF Nominees list still - the whole arrangement is VOID & none of the individual balance name in the EPF Nominees list will get their potion & automatically EPF will channel your EPF money to trustee of AMANAH RAYA upon your death.


Piece of advice - if any of the your Nominee in the EPF Nominees list decease, please do immediately approach the nearest EPF counter & present the Death Certificate of the individual & re-instate you NEW / LATEST Nominee in the EPF Nominees list + NEW / LATEST percentage
.

If, you & the other party (maybe spouse) involved in the same misfortune (accident / illness) that caused death to both yourself / spouse please, please, please alert your siblings / relatives / parents to immediately approach the nearest EPF counter & share the information within 3 days to AVOID all EPF money to be surrender to trustee of AMANAH RAYA.

Upon surrender to trustee of AMANAH RAYA, your children will have to battle the money thru 3 channels;

Majlis Agama

Pejabat Tanah

Mahkamah


The normal period via above 3 channels usually takes 2-3 years (except if you have inside/tip top connection) at Amanah Raya.

明星八卦