Letter to Editor
THE job of the Opposition is to keep the Government in check, such as to speak up when there is corruption or offer constructive ideas when it comes to policies.
But sadly, many Opposition lawmakers have abdicated such responsibility.
They have resorted to nitpicking the most inconsequential issues that have no real relevance to the people except to rouse their emotions.
One example is the row between Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin and her predecessor Teresa Kok.
Kok has questioned whether Zuraida understood English when the former questioned the merits of putting Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB), the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) and the Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council (MPOCC) “under one roof”.
This led to a series of back-and-forth spat between the two women politicians which is reminiscent of the thrash talk in schoolyards.
Like seriously, aren’t there more substantive issues for Kok to raise, besides “Zuraida, do you not understand English? Let me put it to you in BM”? This is most condescending not just to Zuraida but to voters as well.
Voters expect politicians to bring up issues like how to counter the anti-palm oil lobby in Europe and how to boost yield for the commodity through the use of more advanced plantation techniques.
Besides palm oil, there are also a lot of issues people like Kok can raise, such as minimum wage, how to stem the rise in COVID-19 infections or the controversy surrounding the conversion of Loh Siew Hong’s children.
It is time people like Kok save the thrash talk and help save taxpayers’ money. – Feb 21, 2022
Madeline Chong
Malacca
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
