A Kadir Jasin
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THE PRIME Minister, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak’s kangkung story has been so widely discussed, lampooned and satirized that I need not add a word more.
Bloggers, their debaters, the news portals, the facebook and twitter account holders have done such a fine job that it leaves no room for me to put in my two cents worth of thought.
Still I do not want to miss the opportunity to contribute my two cents worth of something in praise of this humble plant.
By what name it goes, kangkung is easily the most widespread plant and the most loved vegetable in our country. It is so popular that it inspired a song aptly called “lenggang-lenggang kangkung”.
Kangkung is easily grown on the ground or in pots. But there is a species that grows wild in rivers, streams, irrigation canals and ponds.
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| Wild Kangkung is Free |
So I asked my young French-trained Malay economist if a cost of living or inflation indicator could be developed around kangkung price to create the kangkung index? To make it sound clever and classy, we can choose to call it Ipomoea Aquatica Index.
And since kangkung is also consumed in many Asian countries, it can even be treated as the Asian version of the Big Mac Index to compare purchasing power parity of their respective currencies.
I had rejected from the outset the temptation to call it “indeks tipu” (cheating index) although among the Johorians, I was told, kangkung is sometimes called sayur tipu (cheating vegetable). That’s because it may look a lot when fresh, but once cooked the mass is greatly reduced.
My French-trained economist friend told me he consulted his economist friend and together they come up with the following explanation (in the Malay language). See how linguistically versatile some Malaysians are?
“Indeks Kangkung
“Baru-baru ini seorang VVIP telah mengeluarkan kenyataan bertanya kenapa rakyat tidak berterima kasih kepada kerajaan atas kejatuhan harga kangkung. Kenyataan beliau boleh ditafsirkan sebagai beliau percaya kos sara hidup telah turun kerana harga kangkung telah turun. Oleh yang sedemikian mungkin kita boleh jadikan harga kangkung sebagai indikator untuk kos sara hidup untuk mengantikan CPI [Consumer Price Index]. Kita akan cipta satu indeks baru berdasarkan harga kangkung yang akan kita namakan ‘Indeks Kangkung’.
“Bagaimana indeks ini berfungsi?
“Kita akan ambil harga kangkung dari permulaan tahun 2013 sehingga 14 Jan 2014. Kita akan lihat perubahan pada harga kangkung untuk menentukan sama ada kos sara hidup telah naik atau turun pada tempoh itu.Dari carta di bawah, indeks kangkung menunjukkan bahawa kos sara hidup telah menurun sebanyak 50% dari awal tahun 2013. Ini menunjukkan bahawa kenyataan VVIP itu tepat sekali, dan rakyat harus bersyukur atas pencapaian yang memberangsangkan ini. Indeks ini boleh dikemas kini setiap minggu.
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| Sumber daripada FAMA |
“Namun dari segi implikasi kepenggunaan, indeks ini amatlahterhad. Berdasarkan data mutakhir daripada Jabatan Perangkaan Malaysia, perbelanjaan untuk makanan dan minuman adalah lebih kurang 20.3% daripada perbelanjaan purata bulanan untuk setiap isi rumah. Dari angka tersebut, hanya 10% digunakan untuk membeli sayur-sayuran. Ini bermakna, hanya 2% daripada perbelanjaan purata total setiap isi rumah digunakan untuk membeli sayur. Peratusan sebenar mungkin lebih rendah sebab bukan semua isi rumah makan kangkung sahaja.
“Rumusannya: Walaupun harga kangkung sudah turun, ini tidak bermakna kos sara hidup juga sudah turun.”
Nah, siapa kata budak Melayu tak faham ekonomi? Macam mana pun, adakah kita masih ingat “sarung index” Pak Ungku? Takut-takut ramai dah lupa, tetapi unjurannya masih satu realiti?
The Son Remembers
I am also tempted to join the debate on Mohd Nazir Abdul Razak’s remembrance of his father, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.
In his widely published article, this prominent banker, among other things wrote:
“My father made it abundantly clear that while Seri Taman may be our home, the house belonged to the Government and, hence, to the people.
“Anything spent on it would have to come from public funds; and there was no way he was going to allow the state coffers to be depleted on something as frivolous as a swimming pool.
“What will the people think?” he thundered.
“As the custodian of the nation’s coffers, his frugality was legendary.”
Hmm…, I don’t think I can add anything to that. His message is loud and clear.
GM Sacked Azmin as SEDC Director?
That’s what the Menteri Besar, Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, was reported as saying. He said PKR deputy president, Azmin Ali (his mortal enemy) was actually dropped from the PKNS board by its General Manager, Othman Omar.
This is worse than mind-boggling. A GM can sack or drop a board member, who is the number two in the PKR, just like that? Phew!
But today, the PKNS issued a press statement saying that Azmin’s removal was the decision of the Selangor state government.
It said, under clause 4(1) of the Selangor State Economic Development Corporation Enactment 1964, only the exco had the power to appoint or remove board members. The PKNS General Manager does not have such authority, it said.
It said it issued a letter to Azmin on Jan 8 informing him that the Selangor Exco, which met on Nov 13, had decided to terminate his position as a board member. The decision was confirmed on Dec 4.
I don’t blame you if you are confused. Even the PKR Ketua Umum, Anwar Ibrahim is confused and so he ordered that Azmin be reinstated.
He told a press conference that Azmin’s removal did not adhere to procedures. He said only the Menteri Besar or exco had the power to remove Azmin from the board.
"The General Manager does not have the power to release the letter (removing Azmin from the board).
"To me, Azmin's position in PKNS remains as his removal did not follow the correct rules," he said.
He added that Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had stated that he did not release the letter to remove Azmin from his position.
"The General Manager does not have the power to release the letter (removing Azmin from the board).
"To me, Azmin's position in PKNS remains as his removal did not follow the correct rules," he said.
He added that Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim had stated that he did not release the letter to remove Azmin from his position.
Now, who is lying and who is not telling the truth?
Oh la la!