MADANI either wants us to drop dead or this is an unfunny joke at our expense.

Yesterday, the treasury announced that it plans to implement a RM 5.4 billion cut to both public healthcare and education. At the same time, petrol subsidies have ballooned by RM 7 billion a month in April. Read that again: they are using the excuse of fuel prices to gut healthcare whilst doing nothing to ensure businesses and the rich pay their fair share

Let us lay out the facts. Our hospitals right now are overwhelmed with patients. Our doctors are underpaid and overworked and, because of the war in Iran, we are looking at medicine production decreasing. Despite government claims, there is absolutely no circumstance where cutting 6.6% of the healthcare budget won’t affect our hospitals.

For us rakyat, it means medicine shortages, deteriorating hospitals, a longer waiting list and more unnecessary deaths. Not for the upper class. Most of the suffering would be from ordinary rakyat. More than 70% of Malaysians depend on public healthcare.

Two days ago, there were reports that the number of Malaysian billionaires will grow by 39% by 2031. The top 10% of all Malaysians own 70% of the wealth in 2025. Targeting the services that benefit the poor the most isn’t a neutral decision. This is MADANI, both PH and BN, actively choosing to hurt and kill the poor so as to not inconvenience the upper class who are growing richer and richer.

We will hear more stories about kids dying, more stories about how families are forced to say goodbye to their loved ones early. While at the same time, our rich grow more wealthy, powerful and influential, unchallenged and untaxed? This is MADANI’s decision: they are using the excuse of fuel subsidies to take away your healthcare to not inconvenience the rich! Is this the decision you want? For us to drop dead for the sake of billionaires?

They will say this is a necessity. Do not be deceived.

To call it fiscal responsibility is nonsense. Fuel subsidies are ballooning because of Malaysia’s reliance on petroleum which could have been reduced immediately with mandating WFH orders in the private sector. But they have not, merely releasing a weak recommendation to companies. PH and BN do not care and PN has utterly failed in serving its role as an opposition. We will not take this lying down. Neither should you.

To reduce the burden of fuel subsidies, the government could have reduced the use of private vehicles and wastage of fossil fuels. Mandating WFH for the private sector, congestion charges and reducing the subsidy for the rich would go a long way to reduce the financial burden. At the same time, taxes should be increased on the wealthy who are shielded from the negative consequences of the economy like through wealth taxes, inheritance taxes and empty property taxes. MADANI has options yet they chose more death, suffering and disease among us rakyat.

Enough. 1st May, Mayday, Parti Sosialis Malaysia will march in KL. From Masjid Negara to Dataran Merdeka. The other parties cannot be depended on to fight against this. We must send a message they cannot ignore. We hope to see you there, with us.

Either the government U-turns or we suffer.

Nabil