Belt Tightening 2014 and One Hard Cry!

Shocking price upheavals at the kopitiam

Yes, when it rains;it pours.

After the fireworks of welcoming in the new year, a sombre mood awaits.

Thanks but no thanks to the government of the day, Malaysians will be roundly rustled by an aggressive butt-kicking inflation.

What with the withdrawal of gasoline and sugar subsidies, the rise of Tenaga tariff by more than 15%,the 20-30% school bus hike in February, expected toll and LRT fare increases, expect the worse. Parents of school going students will also have to face a 20% increase in stationery costs.

Do not be surprised if public bus and taxi fares moved up too!

Then there is the implementation of the minimum wage making it more expensive to do business in Malaysia.

As such, expect prices of food and drinks at the local kopitiam to go sky high.

Already drinks have been increased by 20% in KL, PJ and Penang while a bowl of noodles or rice up a hefty 50% beginning 1 January 2014!

Local economists are now forecasting three difficult years ahead with the GST kicking in on April 2015.

While RM 3,000 would be just ' nose above water ' in 2003 for the KL-PJ metropolitan area, the new numbers bandied around is RM5,000 to RM 8,000 for mere survival.

With a shrinking rinngit in your wallet, there is nothing to do but to get a second job or lament and cry hard!