In recent days we have been assailed by newspaper and television reports on the BR1M aid, whether they be of BN politicians giving out the money to successful applicants, people pushing and jostling to check their applications and to collect their money, successful applicants praising and glorifying the ‘caring’ BN government, BN politicians insisting that the BR1M is a ‘sincere approach’ by the ‘caring’ BN government concerned about the welfare of the people and not a vote-buying tactic, and BN politicians castigating opposition members for politicising the issue.
It does not take much for the ordinary person in the street to think logically about this. In the recent months, schoolchildren were given RM100 each and college and university students RM200 in aid before the BR1M was given. Why is it that these forms of ‘caring’ monetary aid are only given during the election year and not during non-election years? Can we say that during those non-election years, the government was uncaring about the people? It is obvious to even the least skeptical of persons that this is an election ploy by the BN government no matter how vehement and incessant the denial by their spokespersons. As commented by some, this is a blatant ‘Beli Rakyat 1M’ vote–buying exercise.
Contrary to what the BN politicians are saying, it is not the opposition that has been politicising the BR1M but the BN politicians themselves who are guilty of it by taking advantage of the distribution of the money (for the BR1M as well as the students’ aid) to orchestrate photo-opportunities and feel-good press conferences. The RM2.6bil to fund this fishing expedition comes from all taxpayers, not from BN politicians. If this is not a vote-buying exercise, all state assemblymen and members of parliament, regardless of their political affiliations, should be given the chance to distribute the aid in their constituencies.
It was revealed in the last Sarawak DUN sitting that there are 55,975 poor households in the state, of which almost half are categorized as hardcore poor families earning less than RM520 a month. While they and the lower income earning households certainly welcome the RM500 aid as instant relief, a truly caring government would have implemented policies and programmes years ago to help these people improve themselves and to promote their socio-economic development. What will the one-off RM500 quick-fix band-aid scheme achieve for them once it is spent? The poor will still be languishing in poverty, forgotten until the next election looms and Sarawak’s population will remain among the poorest in the country. That the government of the day (and indeed of the past 50 years) has failed the country and the people is clear from the sheer numbers of people who have been scrambling for the money since the scheme was announced. Why are there so many people eligible for the aid? That alone is proof that the welfare of the ordinary citizen is of no consequence to the government until election year rolls along. The RM500 payment offers no expiation for the neglect of the government over the years.
Hence, I suggest that the BN politicians should stop politicising the issue and in the process causing the BN government embarrassment over its poor track record. Of course the rakyat should take the money from the taxpayers but I urge them to vote wisely in the coming elections. The PR has proven itself in the states it governs in West Malaysia. By voting for us, you will be voting for a brighter future for yourselves and your children. The PR is committed to eradicating poverty, corruption and cronyism and to providing good educational resources, capable and efficient institutions, stability and prosperity. Our policies as stated in the Buku Jingga and our State PR manifesto emphasize good governance premised on proven international principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT). We will prioritise health care and educational facilities to enrich human capabilities and opportunities. We will provide basic facilities to the people and improve the infrastructure of the state. We will ensure fair distribution of the state’s wealth and resources among the people. Our focus will be on steadily improving the lives and livelihood of the rakyat. In other words, a Pakatan Rakyat government will make it our business to ensure that the people’s welfare is paramount so that they will never need to be subjected to the indignity of queuing for long hours in the hot sun and to pushing and jostling in large crowds just to receive some inducement money from a panicked government on the eve of elections, and thereby be unwittingly exploited as election propaganda. Give the PR coalition as chance - you have nothing to lose but everything to gain.
IBRAHIM ALI AND THE WHITE PACKET
Much has been said about the insensitivity of Ibrahim Ali in distributing white packets to senior citizens at Perkasa’s Chinese New Year open house. The revulsion and anger felt by the Chinese community is heightened by the fact that the recipients of the white packets are in their senior years and hence feeling more vulnerable than other segments of the population. Many of them are doubtless now plagued by feelings of unease and worry. The arrogance of Ibrahim Ali in brushing off the incident as an innocent act stemming from his ignorance of Chinese custom and practice shows his lack of respect for the Chinese community. This abhorrent behavior displayed by a Member of Parliament brings disgrace and shame to his office. Pakatan Rakyat Sarawak calls for Ibrahim Ali to show some semblance of human decency by apologising to the Chinese community for his crass actions. We are thankful everyday that Sarawakians value the harmony that exists amongst ourselves, and the mutual respect for each other’s religion and culture. It is our fervent hope that this will remain the case as we approach our Jubilee year and continue well beyond that.
Baru Bian
Chairman
PKR Sarawak/
State Assemblyman
N70 Ba’ Kelalan
