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Saturday, February 17, 2018

A sad Chinese New Year



Finishing our reunion dinner, it took me only 10 minutes to wash up this year.
It is not because we have installed a new dishwasher or hired an Indonesian maid (both untrue) but because our dinner was nothing but a simple steamboat meal which my wife had prepared.
The ingredients were the standard items such as fish balls and crabsticks which my wife had bought at the nearby supermarket.
In the past, Mother would prepare a whole table full of Chinese delicacies and the entire family came together for a meal.
This year, it was just my wife and two young children and we had to tighten the belt. The only consolation I had was when both kids said, “We love Mummy’s cooking. It is simply the best!”
And when prodded further, they added: “And Daddy’s cooking as well!”
After dinner, the kids had some games of fireworks of what was left over from previous years. We did not even buy new ones for them this year.
For one, I hate fireworks; secondly, I see it as being simply wasteful. Thirdly, fireworks are dangerous for kids.
Usually, by the evening of Chinese New Year Eve, the whole housing estate would be like a war zone, with the loud bangs from the firecrackers all over. This year, it was quiet. Everything was, in fact, very quiet.
Except for two boxes of Mandarin oranges which my wife insisted she had to buy, I decided this year that we would not buy the 20 boxes and hampers as in previous years.


Or either the tens of packets of titbits to pack as souvenirs to be given away during visits by relatives and friends.
The prices of goods have escalated so high. A packet of groundnuts, for example, used to cost only RM1.80 a few years ago but is now RM2.50 a packet. The content is much lesser and its quality has also dropped substantially despite being a well-known brand.
Besides that, I have been complaining in the past that there is such a great deal of wastage during celebrations. Mandarin oranges that are not consumed eventually make their ways to the compost bins.
This year, we have stopped buying packet drinks and New Year biscuits. Therefore, we are not planning to invite anyone to our home. When they come, we will only serve them plain water.
Tightening the belt
Sadly, for most of us, it will just be the giving away of red packets to the children, minus all the Chinese New Year goodies and presents. When I shared this with an editor friend of mine from a business magazine, he responded: “Many share your sentiment.”
Although we belong to the middle-income group, the rising cost of living has already taken its toll on us.
If we do not tighten the belt, we will not be able to balance the household budget. Instead of paying our full credit card balance promptly, we pay partially just so that we have sufficient cash flow to sustain the family.
If Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak still does not get the hint, I will elaborate more.
In previous years, although we could not have a RM1,200 hairdo, we could still afford to have dinner at a favourite restaurant at least once a week. But now it is nothing but simple home-cooked pasta and tomato sauce.
Just a simple breakfast or lunch at a nearby noodle or even the mamak shop of thosai or capati can easily cost RM30 for a family of four.


This is the one question I would like to ask Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry Ahmad Maslan: “How can the goods and services tax (GST) help to bring prices down?”
Also, I would like Najib to tell me where I can find a chicken for RM1 or buy the cheapest kangkong in town.
We used to spend about RM2,000 on books for our children but last year, we cut down not only on their books but we also stopped a few of their extra-curricular activities.
For this year, it is likely that my girl will have to stop learning the violin, too.
So I would be honest about it: tell me, why should it be a “Happy” Chinese New Year for me and my family? I am sure a lot of other Chinese families feel the same.
For that reason, I would work harder - even on a pro bono basis - to push for a change of government in Putrajaya.
I will use my vote wisely and I urge others to come out in full force to vote for a change. This is the only hope that we have.

STEPHEN NG is an ordinary citizen with an avid interest in following political developments in the country since 2008.- Mkini

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