How to Survive With Your Salary?

Our Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, has advised the public to spend your money wisely. And no more moonlighting. "With your salary increase, you should manage your budget and money wisely," he told them. "Unlimited spending will only create problems for yourself."

On 21 May, the prime minister announced a pay increase of between 7.5% and 42% for the country's more than one million civil servants, in what is seen as the best ever pay increment for the civil service.

Any clue whether the prime minister has to issue the statement as above due to an email (as shown below) being widely circulated in Malaysia:-

Subject: Can a family man with a salary of RM3,000 survive in Malaysia
Let's do some simple calculations here. In Malaysia, the average family income is RM3,000 per month (where father works, mother doesn't). I understand there are many families whose monthly income does not reach RM3,000, but, to make things simple, let's take RM3,000 as the figure. Ok lah, right?

Okay, let's start rolling with a family which has Papa, Mama, 1 daughter and 1 son. Ngam-ngam ...... Calculation starts...
Electricity and water bill: RM100 (No air-con, No home theatre, No water heater ... ok?)
Phone bill (Digi, Maxis, Celcom or Telekom): RM100
Meals for a happy family: RM775 (3 meals on RM25/day, RM25 for 4 persons...?)
Papa makan / teh-tarik during working hrs: RM155 (RM5/day, RM5 ... can eat what?)
Car repayment: RM400 (A proton saga aeroback, 7 yrs repayment)
Petrol (living in city, traffic-jam): RM300 (go to work, bring son to school, only can afford one car running)
Insurance: RM400 (kids, wife and myself)
House repayment: RM750 (low cost housing repayment for 30 yrs, retired still have to work to pay!)
Tuition: RM80 (got that cheap meh? i don't think so)
Children pocket money @ school: RM20 (RM1/day, eat bread?)
School fees: RM30 (enough ah?)
School books and etc: RM100 (always got extra to pay in school)
Miscellaneous: RM100 (shampoo, rice, sauce, toilet paper)

Oh wait!!! I have to stop here, so... No Astro, no movie @ cinema, no DVD, no CD, no online, cannot KFC, cannot McDonald, cannot go walking in the park during weekend (petrol expensive), no chit chat on phone with grandparents, and etc...

Let's use a calculator to total up... WALAO EH! Sxxx! RM3,310 already...EPF (old age retirement fund) belum potong, income tax lagi........ oledi RM3,310 ... How to survive lah tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekalian??? Our Deputy Prime Minister asked us to change lifestyle? How to change? Don't eat? Don't work? Don't send children to school and study?

Besides that, I believe in Malaysia population, there are millions of rakyat Malaysia which still don't earn RM3,000/month! !! What is this? Inilah Malaysia Boleh... Sorry... it should be Malaysians Boleh, because we're still alive and kicking!! Our politicians must be mad!!!! Please forward and comment boleh or tak boleh. No wonder so many Ah Loongs (illegal moneylender) around..
Tags: Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Salary