Kadir Jasin to PM: No end to poverty despite being emotionally overwhelmed

IF Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob is going to be overwhelmed by emotions every time he speaks about poverty, there will be no end to his sadness because poverty is not something that will disappear overnight despite the many plans to put an end to it.

Former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) leader Datuk A. Kadir Jasin said this in response to news that the Prime Minister was emotionally overwhelmed when discussing hardcore poverty and the income gap during his tabling of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) at the Dewan Negara sitting on Oct 12.

“The problem is not because we are inconsiderate, emotionally shallow or lack proper planning but because we are all talk but less action, and we often say one thing but do another due to private agendas,” he pointed out in a Facebook post.

“Take for example the RM50 bil East Coast Rail Link project that was raised by Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman in Parliament recently.

“Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong was quick to tell Tajuddin that he will respond to this matter outside of Parliament.

“Why would a question inside the Parliament be answered outside? This is because Wee was worried about a heated debate.

“The Transport Ministry later released a media statement that did not deny Tajuddin’s claims (that the participation of Bumiputera contractors in the project is non-existent).

“Rather, the statement simply said that it is ‘less than accurate to assert that the participation of Bumiputera contractors in the ECRL is non-existent’.”

In the statement, the Transport Ministry said that as of Aug 31, 2021, 81 Bumiputera-majority companies have participated in the project with a value of RM320 mil.

“This constitutes 10.67% of the entire project’s planned RM3 bil in total Bumiputera participation value, while RM3 bil out of RM50 bil is merely 6%.

“How are we expected to achieve the 30% targeted Bumiputera participation if this continues to be the case? There is a great deal of difference between 6% and 30%,” Kadir pointed out.

He went on to question if the members of parliament (MPs), particularly Bumiputera MPs, are even satisfied with the response by the Transport Ministry.

“I think Wee is aware that these figures are low and are rather insulting to the Bumiputera and this is why he had quickly put an end to the issue in Parliament and had issued a statement instead.

“If this is the Government’s attitude towards the participation of Bumiputera in commerce, it is no surprise that the 30% Bumiputera equity target has yet to be achieved, and if the prime minister wants to be emotionally overwhelmed, he will continue to be in this state for a long time,” Kadir concluded. – Oct 13, 2021

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