YOURSAY ‘Why Teluk Intan gets all the goodies and not Bukit Gelugor?’     

                              

Remove 'vote buying' story, Mkini told

 

Basically: If I understand the Election Act, it does not matter where the money come from. In this case, it was given during election campaigning, and the recipient said she felt thankful to receive it from the party that is participating in the election.

 

The Election Commission (EC) should enforce strict guidelines for disbursement of funds and ensure they do not take place during the campaign period, and if it must be done, then they should ensure the parties standing for election should not be mentioned in the process.

 

I don’t think this was observed in this case, hence there is cause for concern.

 

Gerard Lourdesamy: The National Welfare Foundation (NWF) should explain why it waited since December last year to disburse the funds and diapers to the recipient in Teluk Intan?

 

The timing was apparently done to coincide with the by-election there and directly or indirectly to canvass for votes for BN.

 

The EC, if it had any semblance of impartiality and integrity, should have advised the government and statutory bodies not to disburse funds or give monetary rewards or announce projects during the campaign period because they amount to indirectly influencing the voters to support the ruling party.

 

But in Malaysia, the EC goes out of its way to defend or justify the actions of Umno-BN since the entire commission is riddled with retired civil servants loyal to Umno-BN as well as other Umno-BN sympathisers.                 

 

MA: Indeed, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's timing of her visit to see poor old P Panjalay to do "social work" seemed impeccable. 

 

CQ Muar: Shahrizat, what a "coincidence" that your visit to the single mother's house in Teluk Intan took place while canvassing for BN candidate Mah Siew Keong during the by-election.

 

Your timing said it all, and your RM500 along with other goodies were clearly "incentive" to solicit for votes - a typical Umno-BN ploy.

 

Besides, the fact you urged the recipient to vote for BN when you handed her the money and supplies is a violation of the Election Act.

 

Hey, Shahrizat, must you be constantly reminded of your denial over the scandal involving National Feedlot Centre (NFC), which had blemished, tarnished and tainted your image and reputation; and will leave an indelible mark on you for a long time to come?

And not forgetting, the fabulous sum of RM250 million could have gone a long way to assist famished people like Panjalay.

 

Stig: Panjalay's case was approved in December and it has taken five whole months to finally distribute aid to her? And coincidentally, just before the by-election?

 

Even if we ignore the coincidences, the CEO of the Welfare Foundation should resign for taking so many months to deliver a measly RM500 aid to someone in dire need of help.

 

Not Convinced: Why does Teluk Intan get all the freebies and goodies, and not Bukit Gelugor?

 

The answer is obvious - BN did not contest in Bukit Gelugor.

 

Clearly, Bukit Gelugor voters must be kicking themselves for missing out on all the giveaways just because MCA gave DAP a walkover.

 

 

Widow: Shahrizat gave cash, diapers for vote

 

Aries46: RM500 for the poor and ailing mother and pampers for her three mentally challenged children - the epitome of the premium value on offer for the votes of the sick and poor by those chauffeur driven Umno-BN multi-millionaires that would crawl into the depleted wooden shacks in the slums and sweet talk the illiterate to part with their precious votes for pittance.

                                                           

The very sight of Panjalay evokes feelings of pity and sorrow, let alone that of her three unfortunate offspring. Thus it is unbelievable that a person of Shahrizat’s status as national head of Wanita Umno would even think of trading aid, a paltry sum at that, in return for Panjalay’s vote.

 

At least as a wife and mother, wasn’t she overwhelmed by Panjalay’s poverty and misfortune? Was RM500 and pampers all that Shahrizat could do for this downtrodden soul?

 

Every religion preaches its adherents to serve the sick and poor selflessly, but I suppose God made an exception for the likes of the ruling elites.

 

Kingfisher: Any illegitimate attempts to exploit the poor with money for political office is shameless behaviour prevalent in an utterly corrupt political environment.

 

Unfortunately such  politics of condescension is sadly just a generation removed from an ethically recognised core of morally upright leaders who struggled and gained independence for the nation from colonialists and a plantation slavery mentality.

 

A shameless  moral failure resulting in distortions in values amongst those who were bequeathed with a free, independent and a sovereign nation to built upon.      

           

Jaded: This captures the real challenge for the opposition. The impoverished are worrying about their next meal, and barely have enough time to think about the future, much less who to vote.

 

Even if the opposition reaches them, how can they possibly compete with the cash handouts which gives them a reprieve for almost a month.

 

Unless this equation is disrupted, the formula will continue to work in BN's favour.

 

Tpn: As the government of the day, they are entitled to give handouts - this is what the EC will say.

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