KJ’s not ignorant, he’s just saying what’s expedient
YOURSAY | ‘Just like statistics can be massaged, facts can be delivered in shades of grey.’
Ex-student leader: Khairy doesn't know what it’s like to starve
Don't Just Talk:
The difference between former student leader Fahmi Zainol and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is that Khairy was born into a family of diplomats, which provided him the opportunity of pursuing an overseas degree.
Ah-hah!!!: While I think it is patently true that Khairy did enjoy a life of luxury from birth thanks to the "silver spoon in his mouth" and later his marriage to former PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s daughter, I do not agree with Fahmi that Khairy is ignorant.
I do not believe that the well-educated and widely-travelled young man does not know that there are starving students in many universities.
Nor that he thinks that "students can't be starving if even the homeless have food" as attributed to him by another news report.
I think Khairy is saying what is politically expedient, spewing words which serve the ends of the agenda of the government he is a member of.
Just like statistics can be massaged to suit one's purpose, black and white facts can be delivered in shades of grey.
Aktan: There is no valid reason for students to starve. Shame on them (except those filial ones who send back money).
Go compete with the Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, etc, for a part-time job and feed yourself. Malaysian students are generally pampered and make noise after a little ‘suffering’.
Think of those students overseas who have to fend themselves. Not all parents fully finance their studies there.
Legit: It is common for students to live on a shoestring budget. That is why they can only afford cheap food and clothing.
But of course there are people like Khairy and many others who do not know the meaning of living on the cheap and going hungry.
However, many of the university students mentioned here must be getting some form of financial assistance, enough for them to sustain themselves.
They can help their parents by giving them whatever they can afford of this money, but they must understand the financial assistance is to finance themselves to get educated and not give away all the money to their parents as it is not meant for that.
Please get your education first and then help your parents all you want. I was also on a government scholarship when I was in the university and I, too, used to help my poor mother with whatever excess money I could afford but I took care of my education first.
That is the whole idea of the financial assistance given to you. Please get your priorities right.
MA: Former student leader Fahmi should also train his attacks on the Higher Education Ministry.
Suddenly, everyone from this ministry has woken up from their long, fattened slumber and insists everything’s all okay, and even made promises that none will go hungry .
Daniel: The authorities should just shut up and get the facts correct before making comments.
First, is the RM500-RM600 left over from fees and lodging enough for students' living expenses, especially in the capital?
Can a student eat reasonably with RM15 (many office workers I know of in Johor Baru spend this amount daily) for three meals a day? That alone is RM450 a month.
Secondly, many, if not most, stay in the hostel. That, according to the earlier article, is already being paid for, plus it will probably minimise travelling expenses.
Thirdly, what is a reasonable amount for other expenses? I have heard of students spending RM300-RM400 monthly for phone and data. Is this acceptable?
Fourth, are claims of starving families at home true or exaggerated? By government reports, if they can be believed, poverty is negligible.
Even if true, this exposes the malady that plagues these students, including government departments - that funds are diverted to unbudgeted spending. Uncover these data, then draw your conclusions.
GE14Now!: Some donation from the master fundraiser (the money of course coming from his own RM2.6 billion stash) would be great.
But that is asking too much since many of these students would be in the opposition camp anyway.
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