By Niza Shimi
There seems to be an interesting hype around the Malay word “pulau” lately. One is about a horror movie set amidst a mythical haunted island complete with scantily clad actors while the other is about another meaning altogether, which is boycott!
Pulau, the scary movie is produced by My Way pictures in collaboration with Film Force studios and directed by Eu Ho, has stirred controversy that even Minister of Communications and Digital, Fahmi Fadzil, wading in about the movie trailer being unsuitable for viewing due to “steamy scenes” which could soon be edited out.
According to the Free Malaysia Today news report, “Pulau” the movie is scheduled to be screened on March 9, but the controversy ball has been tossed around from the Film Censorship Board, and to National Film Development Corporation Malaysia before it landed on Fahmi’s lap. Kudos, Fahmi for settling the issue!
But the other pulau (meaning boycott) involving Minister of Economy Rafizi Ramli is a harder game to play because it involves the rising cost of living, especially food prices, that is shrinking the purchasing power of many households.
Apparently, Rafizi who is well known for his magic “formulas” before he was made a minister under the Unity Government, is probably referring to the basic supply and demand rule.
If supplier prices are high, consumers don’t buy from them or in other words, boycott. So, this lack of demand will force the suppliers to lower prices.
But this “formula” doesn’t work if the demand is for essential items such as chicken and eggs that people are forced to buy anyway. Rafizi’s formula, “if chicken prices are high, don’t buy chicken”, ruffled some feathers.
Malaysian Insight reader Narinder Pal Singh isn’t convinced. He writes “Is this the best advice he can give, when he is supposed to be looking into the rising cost of living?”
If asking the ordinary people to boycott businesses that appear to indiscriminately increase food prices is the best formula Rafizi has to offer, “….I think Anwar Ibrahim’s unity government need not have an economy minister,” Singh added.
As Malaysians celebrate the year of the rabbit, according to the Chinese zodiac, perhaps Rafizi should realise that the job of monitoring prices and prevent profiteering is with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, not the consumers.
For now, Minister, Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub, is busy monitoring the price of controlled items for Chinese New Year, including the price of live pigs and its parts.
Malaysians will have to wait till the end of January for Rafizi and Salahuddin to finalise the cross-ministry cooperation action plan to tackle the cost of living issue.
As in all things, Malaysians have a choice; 1. to watch Pulau the movie or not to if you find it objectionable, or 2. to keep buying overpriced food from restaurants you have always bought from or to go without. But the question is not about a movie or about restaurants, is it?
For many, watching movies and eating out have become luxuries that many do without. It's the rising cost of essentials that worry most households with shrinking purchasing power and expanding families. Is there a formula to help them, Rafizi?
Let's hope the year of the rabbit will be a better year for all.
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