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ANNOUNCEMENT


Aliran Monthly to cost more...

Blame it on Pos Malaysia

Aliran Monthly Vol 25 (2005): Issue 1

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start_quote (1K) But today, we are forced to increase the price of AM. It would now cost RM4 instead of RM3 per copy — an increase of RM1 with immediate effect. Likewise, the subscription rate also goes up from RM25 to RM30 per year for 11 copies.
end_quote (1K)
Ramakrishnan

 
Malaysians have been hit regularly with price increases. If you look back since 1997, you will be amazed how many times the petrol price has gone up — and don’t forget it went up twice last year alone. This hike has spiralled the cost of other goods and services.

Transportation, toll charges, cost of living, goods and food, consumer items and services have sky-rocketed.

If you compare the prices you pay for any of these items today, with the price you paid for them in 1997, you will realise how steep the increases have been.

In all these years — eight years to be exact — the price of Aliran Monthly has remained the same at RM3 per copy. The cost of printing had gone up so many times in the last eight years because of increase in paper cost, transportation, labour charges, etc. Aliran had absorbed all these increased costs without passing them on to our readers as is usually done by business people. Because we are not a commercial venture driven by the greed of the business world, we did not mind the ever-shrinking income.

But today, we are forced to increase the price of AM. It would now cost RM4 instead of RM3 per copy — an increase of RM1 with immediate effect. Likewise, the subscription rate also goes up from RM25 to RM30 per year for 11 copies. If you subscribe instead of buying off the shelf, you save RM14 or 32 per cent.

We regret having to resort to this price increase but blame it on Pos Malaysia.

The postal charges have increased tremendously. It used to be 25 sen to mail you your AM previously. It was then hiked to 35 sen. And now, from 1st March 2005, it will be 50 sen — an increase of 43 per cent. We will have to apply for a licence to be entitled to this 50 sen postage. If it is denied, the postage will be 75 sen!
  • The postage to Singapore and Brunei (Zone A) will shoot up to RM2.65 from the present rate of 90 sen.


  • The postage to developing countries like China, India, Korea and Pakistan (Zone B) will be RM2.70 as compared to RM1.90 previously.


  • For industrialised countries in Asia Pacific — Japan, Australia and New Zealand (Zone C) — the postage will be RM3.15 instead of RM2.55.


  • The postage for European countries, Russian Federation, Central Asia and Middle East, including Egypt (Zone D) is RM4.00 whereas it was RM2.55 previously.


  • The postage for countries in North and South America and Africa (Zone E) will be RM5.30 as compared to RM2.90 previously.


  • What used to be a flat rate of RM1.20 by sea mail to any country in the world would now under the new rate cost between RM2.45 and RM2.65 — an increase of more than 100 per cent.


  • Registration of items, letters etc. will now cost 40 per cent more from RM1.00 to RM1.40.
We appeal to all readers and subscribers to be understanding in this matter. We hope you will stand by us and continue to be caring Malaysians who will not be put off by this increase. We urge you not only to be faithful readers of Aliran Monthly but to persuade your friends and relatives to subscribe to AM. Better still, give a Gift Subscription for someone you care for this new year.

Full details of new subscription rates

Yours sincerely

P Ramakrishnan
Editor

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