by DR RAJIEE HADI
A Merlimau-born child staying outside the constituency told me that he was feeling the beat of the by-election
drum for the Merlimau state seat in Melaka. The winner will be demanded to discharge his responsibilities to the people. Every empty promises will be evaluated by the people from time to time.
As such, we will see several surprise allocation and development budget to pour, especially the phenomenon of wanting to win the hearts of the non-Malay voters, the fence-sitters and voters who know to play their tricks.
What we do not want, the party which promises projects to not be deceived by the shrewdness of the minority voters who surface suddenly to take advantage of the situation.
Justice does not mean the concept of equality, but justice has to be at the right place.
We do not want the almost 100-year-old Kampung Simpang Panti mosque to be left rotten. We also do not want the religious school, with its wooden wall, to collapse, and we also do not want the road stretch between Merlimau town to Jasin to be in darkness at night and dangerous to motorists.
This is the scenario which should be given focus and among the requests by the Merlimau constituency for their prosperous living. No need to shout about construction aid and promise of site for SJK Tamil. Provide the assistance for the Indian children moderately and based on their needs.
We do not want projects, costing millions of ringgit, to lead to cronyism and corruption. We know and realize that in any by-elections, efforts to win the hearts of the voters is the main agenda. Nevertheless, we do not want a situation like ‘ayam di kepuk mati kelaparan, itik di air mati kehausan’.
Therefore, it is better that the campaign and promises are made for the people who are being burdened with the increase in prices of goods and to ensure employment opportunities in the public and private sector for the thousands of unemployed graduates.
And not forgetting, to focus of efforts to protect the Malay/Muslim and bumiputera children in tandem with their rights in the Federal Constitution. What more, more than 60 per cent of voters in Merlimau are Malay/Muslim.
Another thing to remember , in promising projects and drafting the tenders, have the Malay/Muslim and bumiputera leaders ever think for a while how children of the natives in institutions of higher learning have to go on an empty stomach because their PTPTN loan is only enough to pay for their study fees and for hostel accommodation which are very costly now.
Is this the effect of the privatization policy which ignored the people’s welfare? The answer is in the people’s hands.
What is wrong with giving conditional scholarships to all bumiputera students in public institutions of higher learning (IPT) as a motivation for them to excel because their success uplift the image of the religion and race. Initially, many of us do not believe on the complaints by students in IPT and accused them of not wanting to be independent.
However, after I have scrutinized the fees and other charges imposed by the IPT now, then only do I realize their hardship. They hope, even if there is no scholarship, to abolish or minimize the hostel charges.
Be it known that the bumiputera children will be bogged down with debts and life pressures in future. In fact, they will also face various challenges in the ICT era .
This is one part of the life episode which has never been touched in a by-election! This does not include moral decadence among Malay/Muslim youths . Is this because of too much politicking by our present leaders. Actually, there are bigger problems ahead of us!
Tiada ulasan:
Catat Ulasan