Elections are just round the corner and many parties and candidates have come up with their manifestos. However, what I found disturbing is the fact that there is very little specifics contained in the manifestos and too much generalisations. Election promises such as promising to bring prosperity or to ensure racial harmony are actually meaningless dribble.

This is not a beauty pageant or a popularity contest. Politicians elected to office will have real power to make changes so voters are interested to know what they actually plan to do if they win. Voters want cold hard facts and not just empty speeches.

I remember when I lost my wallet and my identity card, I was told I had to pay a fine to get a new I/C. When I said I am short of money, I was told - ‘That is your problem and not ours’. There is something very wrong with our government. They say ‘with power comes responsibility’ but our government believes in power without responsibility.

A classic case that demonstrates power without responsibility is the laws in Malaysia regulating modesty and chastity. No kissing in public, no unmarried Muslim couples must be in the same room together etc. are examples of such laws in Malaysia.

Yet it is a well known fact that these couples behave in such a manner because they cannot afford to get married. Compare this with the approach adopted by many Arab nations in the Middle East where couples who wish to consummate their relationship are eligible for interest-free loans and wedding allowances. Now that is a sign of a caring government.

The uncaring policies of our government extend to many departments. In Malaysia, poor people are expected to pay for their own medical expenses including for operations and surgery. Also, education is expensive and exclusive. Compare Malaysia with other oil-producing nations which provide free healthcare to their people and free education up to the university level.

This brings us to the question - what is our government doing with our oil wealth now that oil has hit the US$100 dollar mark? This uncaring attitude of our government is seen in the way we treat our poor and homeless people. Many of these people have fallen from society, have schizophrenia, are abandoned by their family or have physical disabilities and deformities. Their basic needs in life are only for food, shelter and clothing.

There is a growing trend of begging in Malaysia especially at restaurants, pasar malam and sidewalks. The politicians always promise that they will end poverty but all the politicians really do in Malaysia is grace the occasional cheque handover ceremony which looks more like a photo opportunity than real generosity.