AUGUST 14 — First things first, I’m not a currency expert and I was directly affected by the ringgit’s depreciation in present times. I disagree with Goh Wei Liang’s point that I would have to be a currency expert before I can comment on the weak ringgit.
You see, just when the US dollar started strengthening, I chose to go for a three-week vacation to the United States. Needless to say, if I had gone to the States the same time last year, I would have saved RM1,000-2,000 — enough money to buy a new mobile phone.
Yet, I chose to continue with my vacation plans not because I have tons of money (far from it) but because I decided to take charge of my own life. I too, like many Malaysians were concerned about my wants to go to the States and even shop for imported goods. I believe, there is nothing wrong in that.
But as perplexed as I was, I decided to find more ways to make more money in order to cope with the additional RM I had to fork out for the same amount of USD. Just before I went to the States, I closed a small but significant enough business deal to help me with my travel plans.
I urge the typical BN macais out there to stop telling my fellow countrymen that they are not to comment on the ringgit’s depreciation because they are not currency experts or because they do not buy imported goods from the USA.
But this is also where I would like to tell my fellow Malaysians not to have their intelligence insulted by anti-government fellows like Victor Goh that we Malaysians are dependent on the government for our wants. If we want to buy goods from USA, or if you wanna go for a holiday where our currency is now weak against, we still can do so by making more money. Whining about something gets us nowhere.
Yes, the government is responsible in helping cope with the weaker ringgit and I would like to point out certain welcome measures that must be taken to stabilise our economy. (Currently, the government is said to be taking these measures but I hope they do it ASAP). I believe that the increases in the prices of medicines should be absorbed by the government and the Higher Education Ministry should help overseas students burdened by higher costs.
You see, I too like many others, want the better things in life. But we Malaysians have to learn one thing, and learn it fast. Nobody owes you a living and that we are empowered to make our own choices in life. If you want to go for a holiday overseas, make prudent choices. If a holiday to the USA, Europe or UK is going cost you so much more, then why not make plans to Australia or New Zealand where their currency is currently relatively weaker than before?
Don’t be fooled into thinking that you are powerless and all you can do is complain. Victor Goh said Malaysian households are squeezed with the weaker ringgit to the tune that more that our household debt is more than 80 per cent. Well, hello there, those are choices that we make when we want bigger houses than we can afford and take on debts outside our means. Nobody is putting a gun to your head to live outside your means, Victor.
There are two kinds of people out there. The first type, whines,complains and say others owe them a living but nothing gets done. The other, they find ways to get the things they need and want. Which one are you?
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
