Category: Consumer Affairs

DAP calls for the restructuring of the Income Tax laws to increase tax rates on the rich and reduce tax incidence on the lower income groups

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Negri Sembilan 10th March 1974 at 10 a.m.

1. DAP calls for the restructuring of the Income Tax laws to increase tax rates on the rich and reduce tax incidence on the lower income groups.

One way to bring about greater equality in the distribution of income and wealth in the country is through the use of income tax laws, whereby those on the top income brackets should be heavily taxed to meet the costs of social services and amenities for the poor.

The income tax laws of Malaysia were first introduces by the British colonial government in 1947, and has not been reviewed or revised since then. Continue reading DAP calls for the restructuring of the Income Tax laws to increase tax rates on the rich and reduce tax incidence on the lower income groups

Inflation in Malaysia

Talk by DAP and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, to the Malacca Rotary Club at Malacca Regal Hotel on Wednesday, 27th February, 1974 at 8.00 p.m.

Inflation in Malaysia

For the last two years, inflation has become our No. 1 national problem. Not a day passes without some new price increase or other, pushing up the cost of living in Malaysia.

According to official figures, Malaysia’s consumer prices increased by over 10% in 1973 as compared to 3.2% in 1972. Continue reading Inflation in Malaysia

DAP calls for government subsidies to essential foodstuffs, like rice, sugar , flour, to relieve the hardships of the poor

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang,
at the Malacca DAP State Convention held at Malacca Municipal Town Hall on Sunday, 24th Feb.1974 at 10.30 a.m. Lim Kit Siang is also Chairman of Malacca State DAP.

1. DAP calls for government subsidies to essential foodstuffs, like rice, sugar, flour, to relieve the hardships of the poor

Since 1972, inflation has become the No.1 economic problem of the people of Malaysia, whether in the Kampongs, new villages, estates or towns.

Despite government expression of concern and actions, the prices have continued to jump by leaps and bounds. This is borne out by the government’s own figures, as shown by the following annual rate of increase in the government’s Consumer Price Index for the month of June of the recent years: Continue reading DAP calls for government subsidies to essential foodstuffs, like rice, sugar , flour, to relieve the hardships of the poor

Call on Datuk Hussein Onn, to take action against profiteering by importers

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the general meeting of the Malacca Division of the DAP Youth Movement on Saturday, 23rd February 1974 at 10 a.m.

1. Call on Datuk Hussein Onn, to take action against profiteering by importers who make 100 per cent profits.

Early this week, the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Hussein Onn, announced that the government was to take “immediate and urgent measures” to check hoarding and profiteering

This is not the first time that he government has announced steps to fight profiteering and hoarding but up to date, all government measures to fight profiteering and check price increases have failed. Whether the present government measures against hoarding and profiteering will also fail, only time will tell. Continue reading Call on Datuk Hussein Onn, to take action against profiteering by importers

DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang today issued the following statement

DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang today issued the following statement

Call on the Minister for Primary Industries, Datuk Haji Taib Mahmud, to make a clear-cut policy statement as to whether the Government will allow the oil companies to raise the price of petrol and diesel

The Minister for Primary Industries, Datuk Hj. Taib Mahmud yesterday advised the public to ignore rumours of imminent petrol price increases.

He said that the Government was in close consultation with oil companies, but no formal price increase has been put up. Continue reading DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang today issued the following statement

DAP calls on Minister of Labour, Tan Sri Manickavasagam

DAP calls on Minister of Labour, Tan Sri Manickavasagam, to personally intervene to settle the 17-day Thung Pao strike and the 26-day Ong Yoke Lin strike to protect the legitimate interests and rights of workers

I have today written to the Minister of Labour, Tan Sri V. Manickavasagam, asking him to personally intervene in the 17-day Thung Pao strike and the 26-day Sharikat Ong Yoke Lin strike to reach a settlement which will uphold legitimate rights and interests of the workers.

Yesterday, accompanied by the Chairman of DAP Labour Bureau, Sdr. Lee Lam Thye, who is also Selangor State Assemblyman, and DAP CEC Member, Sdr. Chain Heng Kai, I visited the Sharikat Ong Yoke Lin strikes. It is clear that this is another case of anti-union management which do not want to see workers organised into a union to more effective represent workers’ interests. Continue reading DAP calls on Minister of Labour, Tan Sri Manickavasagam

Call on Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew to pay compensation to the deceased families of the victims of Malacca Hospital poisoning in July/August 1973

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Public Rally at the Esplanade, Penang on Saturday, 5rd February 1974 at 9 p.m.

Call on Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew to pay compensation to the deceased families of the victims of Malacca Hospital poisoning in July/August 1973

Senator Yeap Kheng Yam of MCA, Perak, and other MCA related circles are very unhappy that I have taken up in the mass deaths in the Malacca Hospital in July and August 1973, and my motion to cut the salary of the Minister of Health, Lee Siok Yew, by $100. Continue reading Call on Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew to pay compensation to the deceased families of the victims of Malacca Hospital poisoning in July/August 1973

Need for a strong consumer movement, which is not a department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Public Rally at the Esplanade, Penang on Saturday, 3rd February 1974 at 9 p.m.

1. Need for a strong consumer movement, which is not a department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry

If profiteering, hoarding and speculation, some of the main causes of inflation, are to be brought under check, a strong and effective consumer movement is necessary.

For such an effective consumer movement to develop in Malaysia, it must have firstly, ample funds to finance its programme of activities; and secondly, complete independence from control or influence from any pressure group or government. It should not become a department of the government, for then it would be impotent and ineffective. Continue reading Need for a strong consumer movement, which is not a department of the Ministry of Trade and Industry

The importance of Kajang

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Kajang by-election rally at Suntex Garden, on Tuesday, 30th October 1973 at 8 p.m.

Kajang voters urged to come out to the polls to vote solidly against the Alliance and for the Rocket to protest against rising food prices

Malaysians have just celebrated Deepavali and Hari Raya. Despite government talk of progress, prosperity and economic growth, the Deepavali and Hari Raya this year is the most subdued in recent years, for the simple reason that the people’s purchasing power are shrinking from day to day.

Food prices have shot up at a rate unseen in this generation, closely followed by the prices of all commodities and essential needs. Whether the products are imported from abroad or manufactured locally, they have all gone up in prices in large chunks.

Thus, while the poor become poorer, and more and more become unemployed, Alliance tycoons and compradors reap the fortune and profits of the sharp price increase for foodstuffs and commodities.

This is why the Alliance Government has allowed prices to catapult unchecked.

At this rate, the coming Christmas and Chinese New Year will be even more subdued, for by then, the people’s purchasing power would have become even less, with more price increases taking place.

The people of Kajang have an excellent opportunity this coming Saturday to register not only their protest, but the protest of the people of Malaysia, against the expensive food and high cost of living in the country, while their incomes remain static.

Let a vote in Kajang on Nov. 3, be a vote against rising prices. It is important that the people should come out to vote, for any low percentage of voting will benefit the Alliance, and give the Alliance a mandate to let prices soar up further.

However, it is essential that the voters of Kajang should not allow their votes to be split, for this again, will only benefit the Alliance

All concerned, whether it is the Alliance, or even the Pekemas President, Dr. Tan Chee Khoon, have admitted that the battle in Kajang is between the DAP and the Alliance. So let the people of Kajang cherish their vote on Nov. 3 and solidly vote for the Rocket to demonstrate the people’s protest against the Alliance policy in allowing prices of foodstuffs and all commodities to soar unchecked.

The importance of Kajang

Although the Kajang by-election cannot change the Selangor State Government, a solid popular vote by the people of Kajang will go a long way to force the Alliance to re-appraise the whole spectrum of its economic, educational, political and cultural policies if they are not to lose even more popular support in future. This will benefit the people and country.

Prices Inflation: COLA and Sales Tax

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Kajang by-election public rally at Reko Road, Kajang Town, on Sunday, 21st Oct. 1973 at 9 p.m.

Prices Inflation: COLA and Sales Tax

Yesterday, the Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, announced a special allowance for government employees drawing $500 and less ranging from $15 to $30.

The payment of $15 to$30 to public sector employees below the $500 salary point is clearly inadequate to help the low and fixed-salaried government workers to cope with rising prices, especially of foodstuffs and basic essentials. Thus, many individual food items have shot up from 50 to over 100%.

The payment of cost-of-living allowance, especially to low-paid employees, should bear more realistically to the steep rise in prices of essential commodities in the last two years, and the DAP calls on the government to double the special allowance so that the payment rises to a maximum of $69 to the lowest salaried groups in the government service. Continue reading Prices Inflation: COLA and Sales Tax