I’m pissed – Adelina Iskandar

from The Malaysian Insider

I’m pissed – Adelina Iskandar

Published: 9 July 2015 12:00 PM

I’m pissed. With Raya just around the corner, I am pissed.

As a tax-payer, I’m pissed that the money I earn leaving the house before the sun comes up, coming home when the sun sinks and not being with my family at weekends, is worth naught. Tax money supposedly for public infrastructure yet I am taxed for the road that was built using my tax, I am taxed for the toll, I am taxed on the car, I am taxed on the petrol.

I am taxed on basic utilities like electricity and telephone, on medicine and groceries.

More than this, I am also an EPF contributor.

Alhamdulillah, I am still able to live a comfortable life. But how long do I have to keep working just so that I can live in the manner that I am used to? Why should I NOT enjoy the fruits of my labour? More essentially, why should the fruits of MY labour be wasted by corruption, ineptitude, negligence, cronyism and general disdain?

Yes, I am better off than most. And my heart does bleed for those who are living from paycheque to paycheque. I interview candidates with monthly salaries less than the amount I pay for a branded handbag.

They tell me how hard it is coping with additional taxes and that’s why they’re applying for jobs elsewhere. I meet pensioners whose pensions do not inflate to meet these additional costs.

My solace used to be that my hefty income taxes were used for the betterment of others, that I am indeed doing my bit for nation building. That I am contributing to the building of roads, hospitals, clinics and schools.

Used to be. I cared. As a citizen, I cared.

Unfortunately these days, it is just us citizens who care.

Does the government care…?

Are we not insulted when we are told not to eat, drink, go out, stay home, leave the country to save money?

Are we not insulted when we are mocked when we query where our tax money really goes? Are we not insulted when we are told that compensation has to be paid if the tolls are not increased? Are we not insulted when told that everything has been tampered with and doctored? Are we not insulted when proteges are told to investigate their leader?

Are we not insulted when no one deems it worthy to speak the truth to us taxpayers?

I am a Muslim and a Malay. And I am a Malaysian. Am I not insulted when leaders of my religion and my race make a mockery of our beliefs?

Am I not insulted when the world makes a mockery of my leader?

Am I not insulted when my leader is not answering……

I want to be proud once again. Of being a Muslim. Of being a Malay. Of being a Malaysian. – July 9, 2015.

* Published with permission from Adelina Iskandar's Facebook account.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.