Govt needs to make reasonable compromises
IT was a particularly significant Saturday for me because I finally sealed the one-year rental contract to move into a condominium, an upgrade from the current 8ft x 9ft room I’m renting.
Then my world came crashing on Sunday afternoon with devastating news from the government; the KVMRT SSP project would be terminated. As one of MMC-Gamuda’s staff, the news turned our world upside down, shocking the financial market bad enough to plunge its share prices down 22%.
I’m not sure what are the series of exchanges that possibly led to such drastic moves but I for one am starting to wish I did not make that three-month rental advance payment to my newfound landlord.
For now, staff have been told to stay put and go on with work as usual, that is until the official stop works issuances have been released.
But really, how can anyone work under these nerve-wracking, volatile circumstances? Political gaming aside, there are real bread-and-butter issues involved.
As much as the MRT projects will still continue upon re-tendering, it will be months or possibly a year plus before the job market reopens to resume the underground construction.
The government’s emphasis on project savings and planning for the longterm finances of the country is well placed. However, they should consider too the thousands that will be affected now, in the present.
It is now a gamble of whether the government will compensate us for all the losses we’re already suffering from the spike in unemployment and forfeited works or if we’re going to be left to our own devices, stretching our savings to survive as if living in the city allows any savings at all.
The construction industry has been taking blow after blow, with numerous cancellations of projects. It is time we took stock of what is happening to people from the ground up, whose livelihood is at stake.
If the government really cares about our welfare, then they should be fair to industry players, provide alternatives or real justifications, not just blanket figures. Make reasonable compromises to soften these blows, if they are ever so necessary.
Meanwhile, I might as well forget about furnishing my new apartment, it is time to tighten our belts.
P. Ishak Kuala Lumpur