KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government has provided numerous subsidies to help to improve the livelihood of the people.
Najib in his blog post said the subsidies that the government provided were high.
For instances, hospital maternity care at semi-government hospitals would only cost about RM200 and at government hospitals, RM10.
“I was informed by Dr Surinder Singh, a specialist from the Tropicana Medical Centre, that at private hospitals, the cost of maternity care ranges from RM3,000 to RM5,000, and if there are complications, maybe the costs could reach thousands of dollars,” he said.
Unfortunately, Najib said when the government abolished the oil subsidies many voiced their frustrations as if the government has not provided any subsidies.
“We abolished the (oil) subsidies because it benefits the wealthy and we substituted it with something more beneficial such as the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) which will aid those who are in need,” he added.
Najib also shared on the advanced quality of living that Malaysians had been enjoying.
“For example, in the early 70s we might have been riding in a motorcycle, in the 80s and 90s, many can be seen driving a Proton car, and I noticed today, among the most popular car brands in Malaysia are Honda.
“Another example is the smartphone. Previously the phone size was as big as a briefcase and now it is as small as our palms. It was once considered a luxury, but today we can say it is a necessity,” said Najib adding that in the first nine months in 2017, a total of RM7 billion was spent on the import of smartphones into Malaysia and the value doubled compared to cars with engine capacities of between 1.5 to 3L.
Najib also shared his fitness tips since many had asked him about his secret in keeping fit.
“I will find time to exercise at least 30 minutes daily, I also take care of what I consume… sometimes it is hard because Malaysia is a food paradise and among my favourite is Nasi Vanggey in Ipoh.
“I try my best to control my food intake, for example, I will substitute rice with quinoa and I will eat in small portions,” he said.