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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright May 2023
Tun Mahathir criticised PMX and his government for being extravagant, holding six Hari Raya open houses instead of focusing on problem of poverty amongst Malays.
We ought to be reminded that besides gorging ourselves with food and drinks, Aidilfitri is also a time to remember our poor and needy fellowmen. Muslims pay mandatory zakat fitrah to the poor before prayers on Aidilfitri. Then we forget the poor once we have paid our dues believing that's all we ought to be doing for the deserving poor. The Madani government ought to be equally reminded that we have to do this all year round.
That is the reason why Tun Mahathir urges the government to focus on the issue of poverty among the Malays instead of merely organising Malaysia Madani Open Houses in six states.
We would like to know whether the poor folks have access to the events? Are the old, the infirm and deserving poor invited to the open houses?
In any case, Tun Mahathir said the government should not feel good about holding open house ceremonies while the problems of the Malays continue to be marginalised.
Let's not kid ourselves. Despite six open houses, there are many poor people out there who still go hungry long after the events are over. You can't be feeling pleased just because of one day's event that costs millions.
"We find that the government doesn't seem to see the Malays' problems, they are having fun, holding open houses even though they say that there won't be any big events," said Tun Mahathir at the Jeram State Assembly Aidilfitri event in Bandar Puncak Alam recently.
Comparing with the six by PMX, Tun Mahathir said that when he was Prime Minister, Aidilfitri open house was held only once a year at his residence in Putrajaya. It's not a mobile circus like PH Madani events.
"Why six?" asked Tun Mahathir rhetorically, to which he answers, "Because he (PMX) wants the people to support him by feeding them!"
What support is PMX looking for? Most analysts say it's about the forthcoming elections in six states.
Could feeding them one meal buy votes in state elections? Are voters that gullible?
Tun Mahathir explains that most Malays in urban areas are still burdened by poverty adding that the community should be as rich as others after the 60 years of independence.
Anyway, Tun Mahathir himself could have helped eradicate poverty when he was PM for one-third of the period. Maybe he tried with NEP etc. But then again the Malays are making themselves poorer sometimes by selling off their own land the size of a monkey's crotch (sekangkang kera) just to survive.
However, you cannot blame them because they have no other source of income. If only they knew how to develop the "monkey's crotch" we wouldn't be talking about poverty now. "When we sell land, we lose our source of income and do not have property, so we become (even) poorer," Tun Mahathir explained.
The poor urban Malays would need more than just one meal on Hari Raya open house. What about the remaining 364 days when Madani open house canopies are dismantled for the event and caterers move out?
The urban poor is left behind when the circus moves out of town to set up a tent at another location. The poor have been poor under so many administrations, most of it UMNO's.
Let's stop the fun and games. Let's eradicate poverty now. If China could move millions out of poverty in a decade it should be easier for us with only a hundred thousand or so defined as real poor.
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