Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.
— Oprah Winfrey, American talk show host and actress
Across the world, the world’s eight billion people have turned a new chapter.
Having gone through a trial by fire for the last three years has toughened up some people while others are just plain exhausted.
At the time of writing this, there have been 6,656,601 COVID-19 deaths worldwide, and 36,824 were in Malaysia. Those reading this have survived the COVID-19 pandemic and its resultant financial and social hardship.
It has been a bittersweet time since 2020. Wars, including the invasion of Ukraine, natural disasters such as the devastating floods in Pakistan due to climate change and political turmoil at home and abroad. All this was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic that wreaked further havoc to all our lives, some more than others.
I am sure in between, there were some happy moments for us here and there on the home front and around us. 2022 did end well with happy moments from the World Cup, especially for Argentina and the fans across the world.
Notwithstanding the trials and tribulations of the past three years, many who had the opportunity to bid farewell to 2022 welcomed 2023 by attending spectacular fireworks displays in many major cities worldwide.
Here at home, the political chaos has subsided for the moment with the formation of a unity government. In this context, there has been a happy ending to 2022 for Malaysia and its people.
Is there more to come? In general, what has this New Year, 2023, in store for us?
For the general populace, times are still exacting, and there are challenges aplenty for individuals and businesses.
First and foremost, the rapid and ever-increasing cost of living is of grave concern for ordinary folks. Some of you have experienced that the price has increased every time we purchase specific products.
If the pre-COVID price is compared to the current price, some items have gone up between 50 percent and almost 100 percent.
The bread-and-butter issues that ordinary people were worried about in 2021 and 2022 are still of concern in 2023.
For those who have retired, especially from the private sector, there is no pension and the purchasing power of the savings are significantly reduced and depleting rapidly. It goes without saying that the unemployed also faces much hardship.
It is good that the minimum pay has been raised to RM1,500 for working people, but this will soon be offset by the increased cost of living.
It has been predicted by various quarters that the recession in 2023 is going to be severe. It is estimated that about a third of the global economy will go into a deep recession. Malaysia will not be spared.
We are already feeling the severe effects of the war between Russia and Ukraine and the economic standoff on several issues among countries like the United States, China, and Russia.
This has significantly impacted the supply chain of international commerce and will continue to cause inflationary shocks here in Malaysia.
These external events are beyond Malaysia’s control. They will continue to trap us into a vicious cycle of ever-increasing food, fuel, fertiliser and animal feed costs. These inflationary events, in turn, will continue to harm the ordinary folks.
Hopefully, the Federal Budget next month, in February, will help absorb the recession’s negative impact and high cost of living, especially for the B40 group. Perhaps also the M40 income group, as they fear sliding into the B40 category.
Another threat we face in 2023 is the resurgence and rapid spread of China’s new variant of the COVID-19 virus.
Having undergone several lockdowns, let’s hope we are better prepared regarding healthcare facilities, food security and other associated consequences of the COVID-19 virus.
In Sarawak, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, on Sarawak Day, July 22 2021, rolled out Sarawak’s recovery plan via its Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS2030).
There are two phases of the PCSD2030. The first phase focuses on the development of Sarawak’s basic essential structure.
The next phase is to achieve this via seven strategic trusts under PCSD2030. These are Economic Structure, Ease of doing business, Targeted Spending, Optimising Assets and Human Capital, Digital Execution, Social Inclusivity and Environmental Sustainability.
I am sure the GPS government in 2023 will once again step in to help the people alleviate some of the fallout issues as they did during the height of the pandemic.
This is the benefit of having a stable Sarawak government here. In addition, with the federal unity gsovernment in place, we stand a better chance of facing the challenges in 2023.
The views expressed here are those of the columnist and do not necessarily represent the views of New Sarawak Tribune.
