Our fortune is God's will, Karmaine responds to 'live on RM1k' dare
TG PIAI POLLS | Pakatan Harapan candidate's for the Tanjung Piai by-election, Karmaine Sardini, has explained that his remarks concerning the price of oil palm fruits were not dismissive of the plight of cultivators who have complained of declining income.
He was responding to Puteri Umno chief Zahida Zarik Khan, who challenged him to live on just RM1,000 a month.
TG PIAI POLLS | Pakatan Harapan candidate's for the Tanjung Piai by-election, Karmaine Sardini, has explained that his remarks concerning the price of oil palm fruits were not dismissive of the plight of cultivators who have complained of declining income.
He was responding to Puteri Umno chief Zahida Zarik Khan, who challenged him to live on just RM1,000 a month.
"I didn't mean that RM1,000 is sufficient and not taking into account other things.
"I meant that the price for oil palm depends on international trade, so as Muslims we should be grateful for whatever we receive.
"Be grateful when we get more and still be grateful when we get less because our fortune is God's will," he told Malaysiakini.
In issuing her challenge, Zahida implied it would be difficult to make ends meet on a RM1,000 monthly wage due to price hikes brought on by the SST and other taxes.
Karmaine, however, said the increase in the prices of goods is not something new.
Malaysiakini reported that the Bersatu man told a ceramah in the Penerok polling district on Sunday that Harapan had received complaints that oil palm prices have gone down to RM270 per tonne.
“We should be grateful for RM270. Actually, RM270 is a lot. If they have 10 acres, they can get five tonnes of fruits at least [...] times that with RM270 and that is over RM1,000.
"If you live in a village, what do you really have to pay for? If you want to eat vegetables, you can grow it yourselves. You only need to pay for fuel.
"You have to be grateful for this, even if it is just a bit, we can still eat," he had said.
His remarks have since become campaign fodder but Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin defended Karmaine, saying he was speaking in the context of Islamic teachings and his remarks should not be misunderstood.
In a Facebook post today, BN candidate Wee Jeck Seng said oil palm prices were higher under the previous government.
He pinned the blame for the falling prices on Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying the latter had let foreign powers jeopardise the people's interests.
This is believed to be in reference to a potential ban on Malaysian palm oil by India after Mahathir accused New Delhi of invading Kashmir and Jammu.
Meanwhile, Gerakan president Dominic Lau said that Harapan should apologise to the public over the falling oil palm prices.
"When (former Gerakan president) Mah Siew Keong was (plantations) minister, exports rose by RM10.2 billion and even though it went up so much, the people were never told to be grateful," he told at a press conference in Pekan Nanas.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.