Saturday, January 13, 2007
Will we see more of our Prime Minister this year?
Its amazing what the internet can do nowadays. I happened to read in Jeff Ooi's blog about the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi opening a plush nasi kandar restaurant in downtown Perth, Australia. The restaurant is allegedly partly owned by his own brother. While that alone is nothing out of the ordinary, the sleeping Prime Minister graced this occasion on Dec 29th 2006 - a time when thousands of Malaysians were knee-deep in flood waters, frantically salvaging personal items, scrapping for food and enduring the trauma of damaged properties which will run into the millions of Ringgit. Of course, news of this restaurant opening may have earlier been earmarked for some local coverage by Abdullah's spin doctors, but quickly silenced upon the massive deluge laying waste to many parts of Johor.
Newspapers are still highlighting the squalid conditions that people are enduring as I write now, in the many areas still water-logged. Johor is essentially low lands and in the flood-hit areas, a lot of the villages are virtually uninhabitable. Even the docile Star is highlighting the trauma of the people there. Promised cash aids by the government is not making its way to the intended recipients. Tempers are flaring, and UMNO is losing ground. The highly vocal UMNO Youth, so quick to lash out and bully their way on the national political platform, were nowhere to be seen from the start of the floods till now. The new "champion" of Malays, Khairy Jamaludin never "turun padang" to help his people who has taken the brunt of this disaster. Perhaps he was also holidaying in Perth with his beloved father-in-law?
The Star made a few pathetic attempts to show the face of the MCA representatives working hard to help the flood victims. This disaster has also laid bare for all the world to see, the true extent of the fragile race relations in this country. Malays were focussed on helping their own, the Chinese complained that they had to pay soldiers and other government agencies money before they could be ferried off their water logged properties. Racial politics which has been a bane on our society, reared its ugly head again at a time when the country needed some assurance that people can after all, live together. The Prime Minister never issued any statements to his people, going on his own way, enjoying his holiday in Perth or whereever else he jet setted to during the year end period. Has he set the stage for another disappearing act for 2007? I do not expect anything different from this man. ¶ 6:57 AM
Newspapers are still highlighting the squalid conditions that people are enduring as I write now, in the many areas still water-logged. Johor is essentially low lands and in the flood-hit areas, a lot of the villages are virtually uninhabitable. Even the docile Star is highlighting the trauma of the people there. Promised cash aids by the government is not making its way to the intended recipients. Tempers are flaring, and UMNO is losing ground. The highly vocal UMNO Youth, so quick to lash out and bully their way on the national political platform, were nowhere to be seen from the start of the floods till now. The new "champion" of Malays, Khairy Jamaludin never "turun padang" to help his people who has taken the brunt of this disaster. Perhaps he was also holidaying in Perth with his beloved father-in-law?
The Star made a few pathetic attempts to show the face of the MCA representatives working hard to help the flood victims. This disaster has also laid bare for all the world to see, the true extent of the fragile race relations in this country. Malays were focussed on helping their own, the Chinese complained that they had to pay soldiers and other government agencies money before they could be ferried off their water logged properties. Racial politics which has been a bane on our society, reared its ugly head again at a time when the country needed some assurance that people can after all, live together. The Prime Minister never issued any statements to his people, going on his own way, enjoying his holiday in Perth or whereever else he jet setted to during the year end period. Has he set the stage for another disappearing act for 2007? I do not expect anything different from this man. ¶ 6:57 AM
