I met a veteran blogger once, way back in 2009. He came with another veteran blogger. Both of them were big-sized dudes. I mean, really big size. We had dinner of steaks and ribs. We talked about the current administration. Mind you, at that time, the current administration just took the baton from the sleepy administration not so long ago. May be about 12 months into administering the country. Both bloggers were and still are blogging on current affairs and politics. One of them is a very long time friend of mine, hence the dinner. Let's just call my blogger friend as Big and his blogger friend that came along as Giant.
During dinner, Giant asked me what do I think of the new PM's economic policies. My answer at that time was, it was still too early for me to give any comments. But, so far, I said, things seem to be turning around. That was when Giant went into his blogging mode, except that rather than writing them down, he was speaking (or rather spitting) them out. His thoughts that is, not his food. Giant said that he can summarise the PM's economic policies into two words - Alphabet Soup! He said so far the PM had only come out with acronyms for his economics policies - NKRA, NKEA, GTP, ETP, etc? What do those acronyms translate to the rakyat? What do a pakcik at a kampong in Johor or Perlis know about those acronyms? Would they alleviate his living? What about the man on the street in KL? What can those acronyms do to him? Prices of petrol is still high. The price of basic necessities have also increased. Giant said that if PM is not careful, not only the rakyat, but members of his party would also go against him. Especially with PM's 1Malaysia concept.
Giant went on and on. By the way, he is a pro-administration blogger. He said, as much as he support the current administration however, if his livelihood do not improve because of some alphabet-soup economic policies, he would not be crossing the dacing anymore in the next election!
That was in 2009.
Last month, I had a bit of a car problem. My car couldn't start. Had to tow it to the workshop. I was also having a few meetings at the office. So, after towing my grand old Wira to the workshop, I took a cab to the office. The next day, I had to tumpang wifey to her office. And from her office, I took the LRT. Let me tell you, the last time I took the LRT was way back in 2008. I've posted about it in my "change lifestyle, austerity drives and the what nots...". And I also whined about it in my posting "change in the public transport".
Last month, I had a bit of a car problem. My car couldn't start. Had to tow it to the workshop. I was also having a few meetings at the office. So, after towing my grand old Wira to the workshop, I took a cab to the office. The next day, I had to tumpang wifey to her office. And from her office, I took the LRT. Let me tell you, the last time I took the LRT was way back in 2008. I've posted about it in my "change lifestyle, austerity drives and the what nots...". And I also whined about it in my posting "change in the public transport".
So, on that day, with a surrendered feeling of hopelessness, I walked to the LRT station from my wife's office. First thing that I saw was that there was no long queue at the ticketing machines. I looked at my watch, wondering whether I was too late to join the morning office commuters or too early. Alas, I was not. Ok, perhaps there was something happening this morning that I did not know of. Bought a ticket, but lo and behold! It was not a ticket that came out, but a token! I was like, okaaayyy... Must be a new thing. Good new thing, I supposed.
I walked to the escalator to get to the platform. Not many people. Must be something big that is going on this morning, I thought. Then I read the LED display of how much longer the train will arrive. It showed "1 min 42 sec". Didn't I hear the train pulling off the station while I was at the ticketing machine? That was at least a couple of minutes ago. In 2008, I remembered it would be like forever to wait for the next train!
When the train arrived, I was again pleasantly surprised that the carriages were not jam-packed like it used to be in 2008! I arrived at my destination within the stipulated time and when I reached the office, I realised that I couldn't wait to board the LRT on my way home!
All in all, it was to be a whole week that I had to take the LRT. And it was a good one week of public transport to me!
This "new" experience with the LRT got me thinking and discussing with some friends and colleagues. I even dared some of them to take the LRT and when they did, they had the same 'feel-good" experience. It got me thinking that these alphabet-soup policies may be working! It is working for the majority of people, from the farmers at the kampungs to the clerks at the cities.
The way I see them, to the higher ups in life ie, the CEOs, the COOs, the C-suite employees and to a certain extent, even to the middle managers, the alphabet-soups policies may not have much of an impact to them on a personal basis. However, if the impacts are directed to the middle managers and lower, I would dare say that the alphabet-soup policies are working very well!
And I do hope that all these would be translated to better economic growth, more harmonious living and higher living standards. Syabas, YAB PM!
When the train arrived, I was again pleasantly surprised that the carriages were not jam-packed like it used to be in 2008! I arrived at my destination within the stipulated time and when I reached the office, I realised that I couldn't wait to board the LRT on my way home!
All in all, it was to be a whole week that I had to take the LRT. And it was a good one week of public transport to me!
This "new" experience with the LRT got me thinking and discussing with some friends and colleagues. I even dared some of them to take the LRT and when they did, they had the same 'feel-good" experience. It got me thinking that these alphabet-soup policies may be working! It is working for the majority of people, from the farmers at the kampungs to the clerks at the cities.
The way I see them, to the higher ups in life ie, the CEOs, the COOs, the C-suite employees and to a certain extent, even to the middle managers, the alphabet-soups policies may not have much of an impact to them on a personal basis. However, if the impacts are directed to the middle managers and lower, I would dare say that the alphabet-soup policies are working very well!
And I do hope that all these would be translated to better economic growth, more harmonious living and higher living standards. Syabas, YAB PM!
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