Illogical to give laptops to the illiterate elderly, says Baru Bian

Kuching, April 13, 2012: Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian has described as illogical the distribution of 1Malaysia free laptops to illiterate grandfathers and grandmothers in rural Sarawak.

"What's the big idea of distributing the laptops when you know that they do not know how to use computers?" he asked at a press conference today.

"And the areas where these laptops are distributed do not have electricity and where there are no WiFI or Internet facilities available," the Ba'Kelalan state assemblyman said.

Baru said he had come across of instances where the laptops were given to the elderly, many of whom were illiterate and the majority of whom had no understanding at all of modern technology.

"It is a certainty that these people are going to sell the laptops or to let them gather dust in a corner of the room. At best, they will occupy a position of pride in the room, but will still be unutilised.

"So, what is the logic of giving laptops to old folk who do not know how to use them?" he asked.

"I have also been informed that a Tuai Rumah (village headman) would bring along his 1Malaysia laptop in his bag whenever he went for official meetings or attended government functions.

"When people asked him whether he knew how to open it, he just shook his head, and he would say "just to show that I have the laptop".

"This is a shocking revelation," Baru said of the Tuai Rumah given the laptop.

He said 1,800 laptops were distributed by Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk AmarAwang Tengah Ali Hasan in Ba'Kelalan recently, and most of the recipients were illiterate elderly.

"And mind you, they come from areas where there are no electricity and where there are no Internet facilities available," he said.

Baru said he had been reliably informed that the list of recipients of the laptops was screened by the Barisan Nasional party leaders, the only criteria being support for the BN component parties.

"Whether these people are actually in need of the laptops and will benefit from having one has no bearing on the fateful tick or cancellation on the list.

"And among the recipients were  a BN councillor, his wife and two children, each of them was given one. This is an example of abuse of power because each family is supposed to receive one, but the family of this particular councillor received four," Baru said.

He said the eligible family must also have a monthly income of not more than RM3,000 and must subscribe to broadband service with a minimum package of RM25 per month from any telecommunication company.

"Does anyone make the necessary inquiries as to the household income, availability of broadband service and electricity, and most importantly, whether the laptop is going to improve the lives of the recipients, and I don't mean in monetary terms by selling off the laptops.

"Over 500,000 people do not have access to electricity, let alone broadband. So, where is the accountability of those who are entrusted with the distribution of the laptops? he asked.

Baru said the distribution should be based on the need and affordability of the laptops for the population as a whole, especially on the lower income group, and not according to the population in each parliamentary constituencies.

"The inescapable conclusion is that 1Malaysia laptop giveaway is yet another example of shocking waste of the taxpayers' money by the BN government desperate to cover all bases in their vote-buying spree.

"It is a major concern for the Opposition parties that the BN government's wild spending of the taxpayers' money will have serious repercussions on the economy, which we will be left to deal when we, the Opposition, take over the government of this country.

"Of even graver concern is that our children and grandchildren will have to pay for the recklessness and irresponsibility of the BN government," Baru said.

"The real winners in this 1Malaysia laptop scam are the suppliers and the companies involved in the distribution of the computers," he said, adding that it is up to the people to make up their own conclusion as to owners of the companies. By Sematong Express.