Many of us are finding it difficult to make ends meet, but these elite politicians do not seem to have such a problem, Ch’ng Chin Yeow writes.
It was sad to see residents of Kubang Pasu in Kedah being given a meagre food parcel to encourage them to come forward for Covid-19 screening.
Malaysia is supposed to have achieved “developed nation” status by this year according to Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Vision 2020.
But, apparently, a meagre food parcel – comprising eggs, 2kg of sugar, canned food, biscuits, beverages, vermicelli and cooking oil – was deemed enough of an incentive to entice the people of Kubang Pasu to come forward for Covid-19 screening. Where is the prosperity for the rakyat (people) envisaged in Vision 2020?
There is such a disconnect between the politicians and us, the rakyat. The politicians seem always to have their functions in expensive hotels that are way beyond the means of most people.
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It was telling that the Sheraton Move by Azmin Ali and his group on the eve of their breakaway from Pakatan Harapan took place at a five-star hotel in Petaling Jaya.
Then there was the infamous sex video allegedly taken of a politician during the Sandakan by-election. This was allegedly filmed at the Four Points, the town’s only five-star hotel (before it closed down in June) – also part of the Sheraton chain.
We have seen many other photos of politicians enjoying sumptuous meals in exclusive restaurants or hotels. Patronising four or five-star hotels seems to be a normal part of their lifestyles.
Most of us, including the Kubang Pasu folk, do not have the means to indulge in such extravagance. The Kubang Pasu folk were simply too happy to receive meagre food parcels.
In contrast, a meal or a night’s stay at high-end hotels could easily pay for a poor family’s expenses for an entire month.
The frogs in Sabah were allegedly promised millions of ringgit each to destabilise the state government. If this is true, insane amounts of money are being thrown around.
The bloated cabinet and the appointments of politicians as chairpersons and board members in government-linked companies in these tough times hardly inspire public confidence in the Perikatan Nasional government.
The government needs to be prudent with our rakyat’s money – but it is not.
The disconnect between elite politicians and the people is mind-boggling. Many of us are finding it difficult to make ends meet, but these elite politicians do not seem to have such a problem.
Worse, the disconnect seems to be widening with no inhibitions on their part in the display of their wealth and lifestyles for all to see.
Ch’ng Chin Yeow has an interest in many issues and subjects, including history, mineralogy and human behaviour. Based in Penang, he truly likes to be a busybody
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
From the photo, one can see that there is total disregard of the “social distancing” rules introduced to combat Covid-19. So the rules apply only to the masses but not to the ruling elites ?
Are these politicians aware of the hardships of the B40? They should take a walk through the flats and strreets of Kuala Lumpur. And yet they have the audacity of taxing 6%.Even you buy shares in the share market you have to pay6% tax and the brokerage fees of Rm40.00 just to probe up the markets even as shares dropped heavily from afew ringgit to below ten sen. Ridiculously shameless for the government to allow such happenings! Do not come and tell us government policies cannot help because these political leaders live in luxurious lifestyles oblivious to rakyat’s sufferings. Getting rid of these luxuries meant savings!! N taking 30 to 50 % paycuts would help alot!!!
Of course they know but ‘buat tak tahu’. Please do not harp on these excesses of such politicians because indirectly it is a compliment to them.
Does this not confirm the reasons why some ambitious persons want to become politicians where opportunities for luxurious lifestyle at the expense of rakyat or others are common and the opportunities for self enrichment via FRAUD-CORRUPTION-COLLUSION-EMBEZZELMENT-BRIBERY-KICKBACKS-NEPOTISM MAY NOT ONLY BE UNLIMITED BUT CAN BE CREATED AND EVEN IF ONE IS SUSPECTED AND INVESTIGATED THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING CHARGED IN COURT OF LAW MAY ABE LOW AND BEING CONVICTED LOWER WITH FULL POSSIBILITIES OF NOT SERVING ANY SENTENCES VIA THE COMPLICATED LEGAL PROCESS WHICH PROVIDES FOR APPEALS AT VARIOUS LEVELS AND THUS DELAYED CLOSURE AS THE PROCESS CAN TAKE YEARS?
Precisely! Yeah, why is our legal system so complicated to the point that even after being convicted and sentence meted out, it would take rounds and rounds of appeal again and again, and again? Just so confusing. Waa..would this mean our govt is wasting so much resources that could be directed towards the people…just my simple thoughts.
Of course they know ! As a lay person, it is incomprehensible how our legal system works. After the courts have convicted a suspect of a crime, or offence and sentence meted out, what happens thereafter?
While citizens do not expect our MPS to camp & eat in tents, the audacious display of ‘entitlements’ by the politicians does not reflect the parameters of a democratic government. Time for the public to refuse the handouts in protest. Let us have some dignity as a community of people.
Yes! It’s time for the people to show their dignity with refusal of the meagre parcels. Actions speak louder than words. Sickening.