What Politicians Don’t Want to Talk About. Lets Compare w Australia

Good day, mates. I'm right I'm Shamsul, host Shamsul from the Gut Shot Podcast. I'm right now right smack dab in the central business district of Melbourne, Australia. Right here with me is my good friend and partner, Syed Akbar. Still back in Kuala Lumpur. Good day, mates. Good day, mate. Well, we've decided that we're going to do this one podcast via via remote. And what we're going to talk about very interestingly is because since since I've been here for for more than a week, there's been quite a number of observations that I've been looking at. The differences between

a country like Australia and ours. And actually it comes to a point where when I and and Syed were talking, we said, "These are the things our government doesn't want to tell us." All the things that they talk about a bunch of BS that actually does not affect our living. Let let me say it. Let me make a very uh uh simple observation looking at uh the vibrancy of their economy in spite of they themselves actually are complaining about their economy, right? Uh Australia has a population that is less than ours. It is about 27 million compared to Malaysia's uh 34 million people. But its GDP

at US dollar is about 1.83 trillion, whilst ours is 470 million US dollar. That's a huge gap. And especially when 470, yeah. 470. Yeah. I mean, not just that. We are

Yeah, okay. 470 in comparison to 1.83 trillion in US dollar. Right? And here's the funny part that we all should take into consideration. Our country is actually smack dab in the middle of uh Southeast Asia, right in the middle of the the the Straits of Malacca and the the sea lane, whilst Australia is way far from everybody every one of their major trading partner. So, what gives? You know? Um on top of that, let me quote just one statistics. Uh the per capita income in Australia is about 65.9 US dollar. Whilst the per capita income in Malaysia is 14,000 US dollar.

At the same time, if we are looking at median salary, which is a better indication of 50% of people higher and 50% of people lower than that salary. I'll tell you what's the median salary in Australia. A median salary in Australia is about US 4,352. Whilst in Malaysia, we are looking at US 650 to 670 ringgit US dollar. Talk about a gap, buddy. Yeah, it's quite wide. Yeah. Um and I think before I hand it over to you, I think the best anecdote I have for you whilst I was walking around the CBD. Unfortunately, I didn't go outside. Um when I was walking around the CBD in

Melbourne, I I went into the Audi showroom. Uh here's here's what it cost for us to buy an Audi Q2. Uh um a mid-range Audi Q2 in uh um in in Melbourne. It cost about 66,356,000 dollars. Uh Aussie dollars. Which comes to approximately RM 183,790,000 ringgit. That is to take it out of the delivery room, insurance paid, um what do you call registration paid, just drive it out. How much do you think our Audi an Audi Q2 would cost us in Kuala Lumpur, my friend? I think I think it's it's cost much more than that. It's almost uh should be below 300,000. Below 300 somewhere there.

I I did a quick check. Your figure is 183,000 ringgit in Australia. In Australia, 183,000 ringgit. For the Audi. Yes. You too. Okay, what's the price for the

yeah. Uh for Malaysia, yeah. Yeah. After conversion. And we are looking at um in KL, the cost is 276,700 ringgit. Almost one Almost 100,000 ringgit more than in Australia. Yep. So, ladies and gentlemen, this is the things that the government are not telling us that we are scammed to death. We are taking 100,000 ringgit. At least this is for an Audi, yeah. So, that means that even if you talk about a car like even the Perodua Yeah, Perodua or even uh uh What What's the other car local car we have now since Are we still calling it Proton? Yeah, but I don't like to I don't like

to mention names of local people. Like you see, you said you said it's not more than what we should be paying. Yeah, Australia has a GDP four times uh our GDP more or less 1.83 trillion US dollar versus our 470 billion. You said the median income in Australia is over 4,000 US dollar US dollar. Ours is about 600 plus US dollar. So, I'm So, their their wages are higher. I'm sure if they have a minimum wages, their minimum wages are much higher than ours. Their GDP is higher. I'm sure the their costs, you know, like rental of showroom, salaries of the salesman, manufacturing costs,

distribution costs, they are all much much more higher than Malaysia. And yet they can sell the Audi just now Q Q2 at 100,000 ringgit less than our price here. So, what's going on?

Our minimum wages are much less than Australia. Our GDP is 1/4. I'm sure our rentals here are much cheaper than in Australia. But the car is 100,000 ringgit more than in Australia. Uh is there any way you can put one of those Audis in your luggage and bring it back home I'll I'll take it home. Yeah, I was thinking about dismantling it and putting it in the luggage, but unfortunately, I think I would I would go over the the the the carriage limit, you know. Um So, what is going on in our country that that we are paying through our nose for and that is a medium-range car. We are

paying through our nose for a medium-range car in Australia. Are you stuck there again? Which is actually affordable by a normal average worker. Even earning that median salary that you mentioned or even those earning below the median salary in Australia, below 4,000 US a month, I'm sure they can afford to buy that car easily, the Audi Q2 in Australia. Whereas here, if the price is 270 plus thousand, that is a It is a kereta mewah. It is a luxury car kind of pricing, yeah. But the car itself is not a luxury car. It's a medium-range Audi. I think like in Germany, your students and

workers who just started a job, you know, entry-level workers, entry-level executives, they are within striking range of buying this car. But in Malaysia, this kind of car this at this pricing, a medium-range car this car medium-range can only be afforded by those upper income people. So, we we are forcing our rich people to drive You pay more You pay more, but you get less. And and it it actually what happens is that it trickles down. The poorer people actually are also paying more for the less quality cars. Yeah. So, Yeah, it's it's not like they're doing any favors for us. Yep.

How long have you been in Melbourne? About a week? Uh yeah, yeah, almost 2 weeks. I have been coming here almost every year. So, the place is very very familiar to me. Here's another thing that I find very interesting. You all know some more that they don't want to tell us? Go ahead.

Well, here's the thing. You know, I was looking at the workers that are working on the roadside doing doing jobs, construction jobs, doing repair jobs at houses. All of them are Australians. Okay?

No no Bangladeshis? There are no Bangladesh, there are no Pakistanis, there are no They are If they are legit legitimate migrants, they are legitimate my immigrant population, you know? Because Australia is also an immigrant country. But, they have proper immigration standards that they implement. They don't have a where a single agency or a monopolistic agency that is holding up that is that you have to pay in order for you to actually enter the country and and then get a job and their passport are held back by these people. So, you don't have this kind of

slave servitude, you know? Instead, what you have which is more interesting is actually looking at all these Australian older people, you know, in their mid 30s and 40s who are still doing construction job jobs in terms of plumbing, jobs that are supposedly in developed countries such as Malaysia they call it our people doesn't want to do. So, we import people from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and whatnot to take these jobs. And then you go to the restaurants here you're being served by Australians. So, tell me, why do we have all these immigrant population? Why can't we have

our eyes, which is immigration Well, what's it in America? It's called immig- immigration control and enforcement unit, go and swipe and and and do a wipeout in Bukit Bintang. Yeah, they don't do that here. Yeah. Here the the the Bangladeshi fellow who was who is involved in a big way in in bringing in so many Bangladeshis, I think he's now a citizen of the country. Uh he's been made a citizen. So, that's the system that we have here. You get involved in human trafficking, they make you a citizen. I would I wouldn't be surprised if they give him some, you know, these titles and all that.

But, anyway, let me tell you what happened in Malaysia since you left for Melbourne 2 weeks ago. Please. First First of all, the temperature has gone up. We are in the middle of a heat wave. And a friend of mine called from Penang yesterday, it's 38° C in Penang. In Kedah Perlis, it is 40°. So, it's very hot. For the last 1 week, the media here, the social media has been busy speculating on Mr. R. Have you heard this? Mr. R. You know who is Mr. R? That's the main topic of discussion in the media, especially social media. They're trying They are trying to identify the mysterious Mr. R.

So, other than temperature soaring to 38° C Mr. R, the mystery of Mr. R, nothing nothing much new to report since you left left for Melbourne 2 weeks ago. Nothing much has changed in the country. Oh, they have reduced the subsidized fuel. You know, this uh you could get up to 300 L a month of subsidized RON95 at 1.99 or something like that. That 300 L has been reduced to 200 L. So, So, I have to postpone my tour de Malaysia with my wife in our car because we're not going to get another 100 L of subsidized fuel. That's just a joke, but that's what's been happening. So, nothing much has changed.

You know? Well, here's the thing that you and I have been talking about, which is the things that are being talked about in Malaysia really either negatively impact the population, but then it is just swept away like, you know, I mean, I These are highly highly intelligent and highly relevant issues. We have to identify Mr. R. Otherwise, we might have problems sleeping at night. We do not know who this guy is. It's very important. It's And and you know, it's it's like they show us a shiny ball here, which has nothing to do with improving our life. Um and and there's nothing to that they show

that this is how we are going to improve your life. I mean, I remember when the when the the the then leader of the opposition who has yet to become the Prime Minister promises that we are net exporter of oil and therefore on day one when he becomes Prime Minister that you know, the price of oil will come down. Wow, I said miracle worker. I mean, I don't know. I've been in the oil business for 30 years and I've never heard such thing. You know? But, lo and behold, now we see you know, I know that people buy forward as far as oil is concerned, but from what I hear now, the the so-called subsidy

has been reduced. Our our diesel is now at 5.52 L. Uh 6 months ago, it was 3 L 6 months ago. So, it has gone up 83%. 83, you know? Uh this is just a few days back. So, this is going to have a serious impact on prices of everything in the economy. You know, the whole world the whole world is delivered by trucks and lorries. Anywhere, any country in the world, everything is delivered by trucks and lorries. And every construction site uses machinery equipment tractors, which are all which run on diesel. So, now our diesel cost has gone up 83% over the last 6 months. And the biggest jump was

just a few days back. This is going to have a serious impact on inflation and pricing of everything in the country. It's going to go up. So, we are going to suffer some repercussions, you know, over the next starting now. Next starting now and going to the next few weeks and months, the prices of everything is going to go up. Uh I I don't agree with the way this thing is being handled. Yes, love. We are a net exporter of, you know, oil petroleum products. Uh and we also refine some of substantial amount of our oil production. What's our oil production? 4 500,000 barrels a day? Uh

I can't be too sure. I'm off the number lately. Probably probably around 500,000 barrels a day or or or or thereabouts, if I'm not mistaken. Yeah.

So, we are we are we are processing or refining about half that amount. About half that amount now in our country, yeah. And uh Of course, so we also produce a diesel a lot of diesel. So, the price of the cost of production, other than other than feedstock cost, but other other than that, cost production is more or less constant. Our electricity rates have not gone up. You know, wages are constant or whatever. So, so somebody is going to make a huge amount of profit from this 5.52 L of diesel. But, we are hoisting this 5.52 ringgit diesel on the entire economy. I would rather I mean,

many people will not agree with this. I would rather maybe they can subsidize diesel for a while because it looks like this thing is a spike. I don't know how long it will last. But, the moment it spikes and prices go up, uh you know, in Malaysia like especially well prices coming back down is going to be a challenge. Once prices go up, they tend to stay uh stay up even if in the if the price of oil were to reduce in the future, I don't know, maybe a few weeks, a few months down the road. But uh once prices of all other goods and services have gone up, it is more

difficult for prices to come down. So, this is something that is going to make things a bit more difficult for the ordinary people. That's that's the real cue. I I I I think to me it's like uh it's like we have no preparation to it. Our cost of actually producing oil and actually making it to either refined product, whether we import some of them, I mean or we export our highly graded uh uh products. Regardless, to me the uh the chess playing of this particular uh being um uh a net exporter has been uh has been quite dismal from my point of view. But because why? Don't tell me

that you don't plan for things to happen, you know? I remember when oil price Sorry sorry, Said. Say that. No, in in Sabah, in Sabah and Sarawak, the diesel price is 2 ringgit 15 cent per liter. So, I don't know how that arithmetic works out. Whereas over here it's 5 ringgit 52. In Sabah and Sarawak, it is so much cheaper. So, I I don't know how they they got those numbers. Is it because of the transportation costs or whatever? But it's a it's a huge differential, huge differential between Peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak. You know? If If you ask me, I think the whole

strategy of it, there is there seems to be no uh uh no overarching strategy on any economic policy that we are doing. Everything is almost like uh by the seat by by the seat of their pants, you know? Uh if this happens, oh let's do A, maybe C, maybe D, you know? It's uh it's the the planning seems to be nonexistent as far as I can see. You know, going back to our our uh our main issue, which is actually when we compare things. I mean, we just compare things in terms of how things happen in this country uh in comparative to actually uh why you ask me why um one of the biggest reason why I

always said that we cannot move far is because the level of corruption in Malaysia is very high. And no one is accepting the fact that we uh actually leaking at minimum what is um what is what is mentioned by the IGP previously, around 40 billion a year. I would I wouldn't be surprised if it is in excess of 100 billion. But then again, that also impacts how we um we have performed. Do you know, uh Said, do you know that uh uh the um the the what do you call in terms from 1965, um among all the Southeast Asian nations, uh the the per capita growth of uh year on year uh 19 since 1965,

who which is the lowest country um that has uh that has the lowest uh uh in terms of multiples comparatively to other countries in the region? I'll tell you what. No need to guess. It's Malaysia. We are lower than every other country in the region. Uh yesterday yesterday I attended one of those Hari Raya open houses at one of my old friends' place. Won't mention names, lah. But uh every everybody there were old friends, all politicians, lah. A large number of politicians. Of course, uh many of them uh lost their seats or lost the elections. But anyway, it it was a a a a number of

old friends, politicians, lah. From various parties. So, we were all sitting and having our open house makan and just chit-chatting. So, um I heard about a new political party being formed. Of course, I can't say exactly who and what because this was information exchanged in private. But rest assured, lah, that a new political parties are being formed and they were discussing on who's going to be invited, you know, to join the party. And then I was talking to another person who is a member of yet another political party. Uh this was at one time opposition. And they were

the person was telling me about again, you know, uh some of them might be um thinking of leaving their coalition and contesting on their own in the next elections and things like that. So, this is a conversation that is going on with the politicians. Now, these are all politi- these were all politicians, uh uh who to team up with pulling out of this coalition, joining together to form that new coalition and all that. But no one is talking about what the the people want or what is good for the people. I'm so I'm really surprised, you know. Uh politicians, but they just talk about themselves,

their parties, who they're going to form coalitions. Not a single person mentioned anything about what they would do for the for the voters, for the people. To to get back support. To get back support. That's the point here. The the the over the overarching point here is that to win back to to get back support of the voting public. You're talking about these are these are basically people who lost uh their politicians who lost their last bids for their seats. They're also they are now without a seat. So, they're planning their future in the how to come back into power, how to win back seats.

But they're not talking about what they can do for the people or what the people want. None. They're just talking about forming this coalition and getting who to join the party and things like that. As though that is the solution to uh winning the voters' support. You present a new party or you present a new coalition and everybody will come running to vote for you. Without saying a single thing about any of the current issues we have in this country, any of the things that really affect people, people's lives, people's livelihood. There was no discussion on the diesel price. No discussion on

the subsidy. Well, one person mentioned the subsidy for fuel subsidy being reduced from 300 liters a month to down to 200 liters a month. That's it. Just cursory discussion. And then of course, criticizing the government, which yeah, I think they have the they have the right to criticize. People have the right to say what they want. But these are uh politicians and aspiring politicians. You know, people who've been in in the game for so long, none of them was talking about what is in interest of the people. None of them was talking about the interests of the

people, the voter. What can we do for them that they will support us and give us their vote and thereby elect us into Parliament or State Assembly or something. None of that that talk, none at all. They just think that by reorganizing, rejigging, recoalition this and that and present themselves to the public during election day, they will win the votes. So, sadly, you know, all the politicians seem to be cut off from the reality, lah, the reality of what they should do for the people. They just the basic question number one, go down to the ground, meet the people and ask

them, "What can I do for you?" And then decide whether you're going to do it or not. Or you want to do it or not. And that will be a better barometer, better yardstick of whether you're going to win the next elections or not. Not who you coalition with or who joins your party or what shall be the name of your new party or the logo, things like that, you know. This uh I think they have lost the plot. And uh these are mostly people on the outside now. They are not in power. They are opposition or they have lost their their position, things like that. People

who are out trying to trying to get back inside but not saying what they can do for the people. So, this seems to be the the the politics in the country nowadays or for a long time. And of course the past 1 week trying to unmask the name of the mysterious Mr. R. That's about it. That's my report for today. See Said, I have a I have this question. Who what is this Mr. R all about? I'm tired of talking about this thing. This is a controversy that was about some fellow who was paid some money, some millions, some fellow being I think a minister and then to do some favors or whatever.

And then the person who who broke the news, he said this fellow, the minister, has got R in his initials, R. So, then one fellow who's got R in his initials denied it it was him. A minister fellow. So, now the mystery is who is the Mr. R? I do not know whether they have solved the R or not, but that is the mystery going on in the country for the last 1 week. Now, it's a totally useless piece of conversation. It's useless. It doesn't it doesn't mean anything for for for anyone in the country. Of course, I mean if there's if there is wrongdoing involved, go ahead and expose it. Why why this

what do you call this song and dance for 1 week about who is Mr. R? If somebody has the information, just come out and say it. But that has not been done. But the but it is distracting people from so many other issues in the country. There are other more relevant things that we can all talk about rather than trying to focus on the mystery behind this R character. Yeah, I mean if if something has gone been something has wrong has been done, go ahead and expose it. It should be exposed, you know, and do everybody a favor. But why drag it so long and try to make

a huge Sherlock Holmes mystery about this mysterious R. Wasting time. Just a waste of time. You you know, here's the thing that is very interesting. When I arrive in the in Australia a week ago, they were having an election at one of the state. Here's the interesting part. At no point I mean there was a big issue of uh of policies. Really critical policies divergent outlook in terms of how they look at immigration, how they look at assimilation, how they look at economic policy, but the discussions was about policies. It was not this discussion like what you were saying this Mr. R or having

a minister. I I know I found that when I was looking at the feed from I mean from my handphone about a civil servant that actually was found to be maybe accepting allegedly accepting bribe at the the municipal council and the minister steps in and says that oh, he has to be punished if it is true. I mean to me all those micro issues, if the system works, if you have your policy working, the system, the MACC, the police takes care of it itself. It doesn't need a politician to actually open their stupid mouth and making a comment on all this. You know, this is all distraction.

I mean the other thing that I find especially after Hari Raya and then it reminded me also of Deepavali. People making a big deal of of of non-Muslim or non-Malay wearing Malay Malay baju raya, you know, as if they don't give a about all those things. You know, that becomes a big story in the newspaper. I think our our newspapers are also equally stupid. You know, they don't focus on policy matters that really makes a difference to the country. I mean as we say the economics is important when our people are paying a 100,000 ringgit more for a medium to me a medium quality car

at the same price in ringgit Malaysia in Australia compared to Kuala Lumpur, it's utterly ridiculous. That means that we have 100,000 ringgit less in our pocket to spend. So, then the other thing again, I mean you look at education. Our education according to the ASEAN IQ average, huh? Malaysia is behind Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand. And the worst ones is which is Singapore is at about 103. This is done in 2026, by the way.

And Indonesia is at 89, so barely hit even 90. Whereas Malaysia is hitting at 98. That is below average, you know. Right? That is below average. Average is 100. So, IQ level.

IQ. IQ level. And the performance is mentioned that it is the biggest decline that we have had since 2018. So, your your education system is not preparing people for the 21st century or even for today. PISA test. PISA test we are looking in 2022, the last PISA test that we have now pulled out because our numbers are so pathetic. All right? We are below Singapore, we are below Vietnam, and we are even below Brunei. Our our score compared to Singapore, which is at 475, for mathematics, 467 for Vietnam, we are 409. Very far below Vietnam.

Right. So, I think these are policy issues that are never addressed by our politician in parliament. All we hear is exactly what you say. Which party are they going to go to? Which constituency? Who are they going to park at with to be in coalition with? You know, and I was one commentary says that I'm being uh condescending to politicians. Well, I have to be I I think all all our citizens have to be condescending to politicians because they are condescending to us. They really don't they they really think that we are all morons. You know? I think they are morons. They do they

I think they are the morons. They just they just don't seem to know what to do or what to say. I think listening to them speaking uh their their reading ability is very limited or their their reading material resource reading resources are very limited. I don't know what they read, our politicians, but very obviously maybe they read social media or they keep up with what our local media says including our local newspapers. That's about it. They have very little or no in-depth understanding of issues. And the more importantly, the significance of issues. Like you mentioned education, PISA. The

PISA scores. We pulled out some years ago. Nobody brings it up as an issue. Why can't we get back into the PISA score system? Why can't we just It is no big deal. It doesn't cost us any money. So that at least we can evaluate ourselves compared to other countries, other in inside our own region, ASEAN, as well as outside, so that we can measure ourselves, we can compare ourselves, the reading and maths and science scores for those who are 15-year-old, 16-year-olds. That's what it's about. So that we can see where is our education system going, where is it coming from, and then we can take

remedial remedial steps to correct any weaknesses or we can further improve things. If we are already doing well, we can further improve things and boost our education scores even higher on the on the PISA PISA ratings, PISA assessments. So, it is it is fairly what do you call this apples and apples oranges and oranges kind of yardstick because they use the same same criteria the same parameters to gauge to gauge the proficiency in mathematics science and English across various societies and so it's a good way for us to to to place ourselves you know to see where do we stand in

international standings uh but we have pulled out because very simple why we pulled out now the politicians at that time were too embarrassed our PISA scores were going down and it was becoming a political issue because it was being highlighted in the media I was highlighting it in my blog that our PISA scores are going down so it became an embarrassment for the government of the day at that time before this present government so they decided the solution is we pull out of the PISA assessment system so problem solved they don't have they do not have to face the embarrassment of uh

uh you know Malaysia getting low low low scoring low on the PISA science and mathematics assessment but why don't we make an issue of it now both the politicians and the people the public and demand that we go back into this PISA assessment system so that at least we can see where we stand vis-a-vis other societies other countries around us how our 15-year-olds 14-year-olds 16-year-olds are doing compared to other people in our region as you mentioned that we ask Vietnam and all these countries Singapore and also the rest of the world so we're not doing this the easy way out is you know the

ostrich that buries its head in the sand by the way that's that is not a true story it is just it is just a thing that they say metaphor metaphor okay that's what we are doing we are okay we are not doing well in the PISA scores let's pull out of the PISA assessment system bury our head in the sand like the ostrich or in Malay we say kata bawah tempurung so that we don't see anything else outside in the real world we only see what is inside our our coconut shell once we bury our head in the sand the ostrich cannot see anything else so you become immune uh to the reality around us now so that

is what is happening in the country but so so the present batch of politicians those who want to come back in the power those who want to win Right I I I want to repeat this if I didn't make myself clear originally yeah um uh uh data that was produced shows that um in terms of how many times GDP per capita increase since 1969 okay let me just this one and I hope we can put this on the on the video to show the number of times the our GDP per capita multiply from the year 19 60 69 65 for Indonesia the number is from 1967 let me tell you South Korea multiplied their GDP per capita 331 times

since 1965 Singapore 175 times Taiwan 156 times China 134 times good old Indonesia 92 times Thailand 52 times I want you to give a guess how many times did our GDP per capita multiply since 1965 say go ahead make my day

36 okay 36 times 36 times so by all measure of economy by all measure of economics the country has been a dismal failure since 1965 in spite of all the infrastructure luxury that we see in Kuala Lumpur no wonder Sabahans and Sarawakians feel uh pretty taken advantage of you know no wonder um and and and and if you look at that you know which means that if you just look at this number it means that every government we have had since 1965 has been an abject failure every single one of them

a couple of points here so like the other countries are like Vietnam China and all that they they I'm sure they would have started at a lower base we we were at a higher base we were at a higher base but regardless regardless

we were also I mean probably lower base slightly lower base than Singapore and definitely higher base than definitely higher base than South Korea yeah in the 60s we were better than South Korea but the thing is lower base or higher base actually I mean it's regardless the thing is the the figures that you have quoted the the number of multiples multiple times that they have increased their per capita GDP the 100 plus and all that and we are only at 34 uh it simply shows that they are constantly their efficiencies are much higher than ours regardless of what is your base that

you're starting from now of course you can say when you start from a lower base you know it's easier to achieve those numbers nevertheless they did it they they did achieve those multiples uh uh so obviously if those numbers and looking at those numbers uh we are we are behind the question is now that all these countries are so developed and they are developed I mean South Korea is no more at 1965 level they are they are basically an advanced economy I mean they are member of the OECD have they stopped have they come to a screeching halt that they will not they they are growth in

the multiples and their multiples has it stopped or they are still going ahead I think they are accelerating yeah like Vietnam Vietnam is only now beginning to accelerate there are things going on in Vietnam which are you know which is really worth looking at how they are moving their entire economy their entire society yeah so that the not just the per capita incomes per capita income or GDP is you're talking about productivity of the people what does the average Vietnamese do in a 24-hour day that's basically that's what it boils down to well not not not exactly 24-hour day in

a 8-hour working day an average 8-hour working day what does the average Vietnamese do with his two hands and two legs compared to the Malaysian and the Indonesian and the Thai and things like that this is what we're looking at the individual productivity of every single person in that society which depends on their education system their health system and then what let's say people are educated and they are healthy they want to go out and do something do they face obstacles from the from the red tape and the bureaucracy and the politics and all the other crap things

that you have in Malaysia for example which does not allow them to maximize their potential versus these other countries that you mentioned just now South Korea Vietnam and all those other China and all that so let's say in all our countries we have people who are healthy who are educated who have a basic level of education this and that

excuse me so so they go out they want to do something good in their lives uh what does a fellow in Vietnam face which either helps him or is an obstacle for him to move on in life versus Malaysia let's let's take a guy from Australia he needs a car he needs to buy a car to do something in his life so he can buy a Audi Q2 483,000 a medium range

100,000 ringgit he has another 100,000 ringgit to spend correct whereas the same guy in Malaysia no way he cannot afford that Audi he has to buy maybe a lower range car and but that lower range car is actually even more expensive than what they can buy in Australia he pays the price of the Audi in Australia meaning your point which you just said you you stole my point just now the point you just made the fellow in Australia has got extra 100,000 ringgit in his pocket the fellow in Malaysia has got 100,000 ringgit less because so this is a guy both guys the Australian guy and the Malaysian guy

they have two arms and two legs they have got basic education they are healthy they are fine they both want to go out and do something in their life the Australian fellow is 100,000 ringgit ahead it's all about money isn't it it's all about wealth about your economic well-being he is 100,000 ringgit ahead the Malaysian guy is 100,000 ringgit behind that's why you come to that figure let me finish your point the figure you mentioned our GDP multiple is only 34 times whereas the other countries you mentioned are 100 times 190 times and all that even Thailand is you know it's

a 50 over times so this is why we are not hitting our uh achieving what we can achieve. And I think the population now is 34 million people in Malaysia. Just now you said Australia is about 27 million. Maybe in another 10 years it will be more than 34 million. We're going to hit our next our next target our next round round number will be 40 million, huh? 40 million people, you know, it's a lot of people. Do they have enough opportunities? Is the economy open enough to accommodate all these 40 million people who will have basic education, who will have two arms and

two legs, who are healthy, ready to to start off in life and start producing and become useful members of society? Will they be continuously paying extra 100,000 ringgit for a mid-range car as the fellow in Australia? Meaning you are running with your your your one hand tied behind your back and one leg is tied to some huge iron ball, you know, and then they ask you to run in the race. This is what in our country. This is this goes back to what you were saying. I want to go back to what you were saying. This is the thing that the politicians doesn't talk about and

doesn't want to talk about uh because why? These are substantive matter that they have no solution over and they want to actually focus the people on irrelevant matters that actually has no impact on their I beg to differ slightly. I think the politicians know what they're doing and I think the answer is in two words, vested interests. There are vested interests in our economy because our economy is so regulated, so uh what license monopoly license oligopoly license is so franchise, everything is a franchise, it is so concession, everything is a concession, and the rich people, those who have

cables and connections, these are the people who hold these franchises concession concessions, the monopolies oligopolies, the GLCs, these are the vested interests. They are very much they are very entrenched in our system. So, these are the people it is very difficult to dislodge them. It can be done, but somehow the politicians seem to be in cahoots. Regardless of who is the government, which whatever takes over the the government now, we've had so many changes of government, ultimately they become in cahoots with these vested interests. So, at the end of the day it

is the vested interests, the rich, the wealthy, the powerful, the elites who who become wealthier. Somebody has to sell that car in Malaysia for extra 100,000 ringgit. Somebody has to make money. This this is where I this is where my point is. The reason they do not want to talk about it is because they have vested interests in all this. So, they would rather talk about things that has no impact on our life. No impact to our life. Who is Mr. R?

Yeah. That is the topic for this one week. Who is Mr. Oh. Our our Chinese minister is wearing a tudung for Hari Raya. Those are the big issues. Those are the Those are the big issues. You know, that's a big issue. For the media, for the politicians, whatever, those are the big issues now in our country, you know. The real issues they don't talk about, they don't bring bring up. The only thing is I find a consolation and I want to record my gratitude and say thank you to the Malaysian voters since 2008 since 2008, 18 years now, huh? The Malaysian voter has woken up. Democracy

works in the country. The Malaysian voter has woken up. 2008 they denied the two-thirds majority for the ruling Barisan Nasional which ruled the country for 60 years. 2013 it got worse for them. 2018 they were kicked out. And 2022 it is a hung parliament. There was a hung parliament. Now going to the next election, yesterday in my conversation with my polit- politician friends at the open house, huh? Nobody knows what's going to happen in the next elections, but it's not good news for them. So, to for that I want to say thank you to the Malaysian voter who now is has sort of woken up. And the

Malaysian voter, the average Malaysian voter is fed up with the politicians. Yesterday, when I was at the open house, I was noticing that there were many politicians there. They all from different parties, many parties. I don't want to mention names, but name name the party they were there, huh? And uh I I even looking among themselves, you know, I you cannot determine, huh? Uh the from from the people all the people who are assembled there yesterday looking at people, even Malays, you don't we are not able to to discern detect and detect who they will vote for the next election.

Let's say 20 years ago that wouldn't be the case, you know, 20 years ago things were clearer. You talk to someone you would know who they who they support politically and who they will vote for. Today you cannot. You absolutely cannot say who is going to vote for who. Even me, I have not decided who I'm going to vote for. No way I'm not going to vote for the same people I voted last time. So, this is a situation throughout the country. You meet five people and five of them will have five different ideas of who they want to vote for. This is the problem the politicians are facing. They

are facing extinction. The present crop of politicians we have in this country are facing extinction. They are going to become like dinosaurs because because, can I repeat? Because they don't ask the people what can I do for you? Yeah.

I want to form this coalition. We're going to invite those group of people to join our party. We are going to form we're going to withdraw our support from this group before the elections. After the elections we're going to reorganize. Go ahead. It's your right. You do whatever you want to do. But as a politician, don't you want to ask the voters the people what can I do for you? This is the funniest part, you know, I was I was saying Yeah. I was saying in the beginning none of this talk about who's going to form what coalition throughout the general election that I I witnessed

throughout the election I witnessed. I think it was the the Western state of Australia. I mean all I hear is policy policy policy policy. You know, and disagreement on policies. You know, I do think I agree with you. I think we need to make every one of these politicians, whether they are holding power or they are in the opposition, to go extinct. They don't deserve our vote. None of them deserve our vote. So, in this podcast Zoom between you and Melbourne and myself here in KL, let us reach out to our Malaysians who are listening to us. Uh some of them may some of them, you

know, they don't like to hear when we criticize the politicians. But the only way to effect change for for the voters, huh? Don't vote for the same fellow. Just change your vote. Them out. Yeah, just for the heck of it, for the fun of it, just go and change your vote. If last last elections you voted for blue color, the next round go and vote for yellow color or red color, whatever. Just change your vote. It doesn't make any difference. You're still going to pay an extra 100,000 ringgit for a second rate Audi. So, there is no change in your life. No change. You are no better off. No, let

me finish your point. I'm getting heated up here. You know, the question The question that, you know, in the US they'll always ask, are you better off today than you were four years ago? You know, they they are elections every four years, right? Are you better off today than you were four years ago? I want to ask the Malaysian voters, are you better off today than you were five years ago? Now, if you're not better off today, why do you want to vote vote for the same fellow? Change your vote. If you voted green last time, vote for the white now. If you voted white last time,

vote for the black. Because there is no change in your life. Actually it's getting worse. It's getting more difficult. Education is going down to the rocks. It's rotting. Yeah. It's rotting. So so no change. No point. Actually, yeah, okay, there was something else. A few days back a friend of mine, a dato, he said told me about a TikTok video a TikTok video that has come out of Sabah made by Sabahan. Apparently the the video says in the next elections this this guy who made the video he would like to put a dog as a candidate. And he says that dog will will get more votes or something like

that and that dog will do a better job. Now, these are young people, meaning that they are fed up. They are fed up with the politicians, huh? So, now they're even making TikTok videos and saying why don't we nominate a dog as a candidate in the elections, you know? That's how bad things are. I agree with this whoever made the TikTok. I have not seen it, but I agree with that with the idea because as I said it doesn't make any difference. Go ahead and vote for a buffalo, you know, the water buffalo, which we have in our our paddy field. Put a water buffalo as a candidate in

the election and vote for the water buffalo, the carabao, you know. Your your faith might change for the better, you know. Because for a for a fact you keep voting for these people, these human beings who have two arms and two legs, politicians, our faith have not changed. We are still going to pay extra 100,000 ringgit for the second rate Audi, which you can buy in Australia for 100 and upper 80 183,000 ringgit equivalent. Just now you mentioned Here you're going to pay 100,000 ringgit more in Malaysia. That is not going to change regardless of who is the prime

minister. Meaning you are being robbed. We are becoming poorer. We pay more, we get less. This is not going to change. So my my my outreach, my call to the Malaysian voter, change your vote. It doesn't make any difference whether you will vote for a hantu or you vote for an angel, malaikat, or you vote for whoever, your your your faith is not going to change. So just change your vote. Let's see what happens. Make these people extinct. Extinct. The word is extinct. Kick them out. You know, I had that I had that poster made in my blog. Kick them out. Just change

Why why don't we I think I think instead of let's make uh Penny Donald Trump's let make America great again. I think we should have let's make Malaysian politicians extinct. That should be the logo, you know. Kick all of them out. Regardless, yesterday I was surprised, you know, because the whole spectrum of our politicians was there. Uh the host was a former minister. Of course, a minister is a politician. The host was a former minister. So a lot of political people were there. Not one of them was talking about what we can do for the people. Crazy. Uh uh What is this? What What profession

is this? You say, you know, when they were young, they probably told the mother asked them, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" So the guy said, "I want to be a politician." So now he's grown up. He's a politician, but they don't know what is the meaning of a politician. You should serve the people. You should ask the people what can we do for you. You know, by any measure uh Australia shouldn't work. The large part of Australia are desert. Um a large part of and and Australia is so far away from all its major economic market. It has much less human resource than us.

This country should not work. All right? This country should never be developed. So it tells you a lot that actually a country like ours, okay, with these politicians that we have, I think we should put down You know, you know, the the word in the in in when we were educated in America, the word is we put we should put them to pasture. Right? You know? Put them to pasture. And if they are more like horses that are lame. You know what they do with horses that are lame that cannot run anymore?

uh you shouldn't you shouldn't say that on the on the podcast. they they they sent to glue factories. Okay? Okay. Just putting it mildly, yeah. Yeah. You know. But you shouldn't say that, you know. I I'll be back I'll I'll be back very very soon. Um and we we'll have we'll have uh some more interesting conversations as promised. Please like and subscribe. We are hitting our mark Said, apparently. Um so I'm very excited about it. Um but um as a uh as a closing statement, I agree with you. Let's make them extinct. Said, last word, please.

Yep. Yeah, then let's do that and let's keep pushing this idea because uh most importantly the public the Malaysian public they should understand what is really going on. Because remember you started this conversation by asking what the government does not tell you. So never mind if they don't tell us everything, that's their problem. We can still educate ourselves. We can still discuss among ourselves. We can still inform each other so that the Malaysian public, the Malaysian people are informed so that they know what is going on. Regardless of You cannot depend on the governments and

the politicians anymore. Forget about it. Just just wipe them erase them from the memory. Uh we Malaysians are not stupid, yeah. We can think, we can analyze, we can talk, we can exchange information. We can do podcasts between Melbourne and KL and using Zoom and all that. All these tools are available for us. So let's educate ourselves. And we don't need other people to tell us about all the fake news that they generate. It's fake news or useless news. Who is Mr. R? Frankly, who gives a crap who is Mr. R? So let's not worry too much about them. Let's uh educate

ourselves. And then so that so that we do we make better decisions. We we we exercise better choices at the elections. We that we we pick the right people to do the to do to serve us. That's most important. As Siti Kasim says, they serve us. Not we serve them.

Thank you so much. Exactly. They are our servants. All right. With that we hope to see you all again. See See you in Kuala Lumpur. Take care. Okay. Bye. Bye.