MP SPEAKS | Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has in the last few weeks already started campaigning for the next general election.

His repetitive mantra was all about the development and progress of the country, particularly aimed at convincing the fence-sitters.

In his fervour to garner votes, Najib has completely ignored the Unicef report, which found higher levels of poverty and malnutrition among children living in low-cost housing in Kuala Lumpur compared to the national average.

His cabinet ministers and supporters have taken one step ahead by dismissing the report, while others quickly said the DBKL was anything but negligent.

Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid is the latest to have done so at the Parliament sitting on Tuesday.

Responding to Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar during the Minister’s Question Time, he rubbished the study which showed that children in Malaysia are suffering from stunted growth, worse than in Ghana.

However, Mahdzir didn’t bother to substantiate his observations, and neither has the Federal Territories Ministry.

In sharp contrast, BN Backbenchers Club chief Shahrir Abdul Samad acknowledged the report in a press conference last week, saying that a multi-pronged approach was required to tackle the issue of poverty.

Echoing his sentiments, Kuala Kangsar MP Mastura Yazid warned that the government needs to narrow the income gap, and give special medical treatment to these children living in urban poverty.

It is heartening to see a strong, bipartisan voice in Parliament speaking for these marginalised children.

But I wished the Dewan Rakyat Speaker could have also seen the urgency of the matter.

When I asked Pandikar Amin Mulia to allow the Unicef report to be debated in Parliament last week, he claimed that there was no necessity to do so, as six ministries were analysing the report and will take steps to address the issues raised.

Mahdzir’s claim completely contradicts the speaker’s reasoning.

Many opposition lawmakers have also asked the government for immediate action to address the plight of these children.

As such, cabinet ministers like Mahdzir (photo) and other government officers shouldn’t lightly and contemptuously dismiss the very real problems faced by poor families in low-cost flats.

The multidisciplinary report was conducted by a team of researchers who worked with 2,142 children from 17 low-cost flats in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

It also includes input from the Health Ministry and Bank Negara, along with statistics on income and savings by the Employees Provident Fund in a round-table discussion in mid-January 2018.

By pooh-poohing the report, Mahdzir has only conveniently overlooked the issue.

But more importantly, Najib needs to state the government’s stand on the Unicef report, as the head of government.

Unless, of course, election campaigning is more important to him.

CHARLES SANTIAGO is the MP for Klang.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.