 | | | | ||||
|  [
Index
] | ||||||
 | |||||||
| | | | | |||
Need To Listen To The Aspirations And Needs Of The People Statement by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong on the belief by the Prime Minister Dato' Seri Dr Mahathir that 'the people are back with us'. 17 April 2000 | |||||||
| On 16 April 2000, the Prime Minister believed that Barisan Nasional, the National Front's, efforts to overcome the disappointment of the people had paid off. He quoted the BN victory in the Sanggang state by- election. Through Berita E-Umno, Umno's Internet newspaper, Dr Mahathir said:"I believe there are signs that the electorate is back with Umno and the BN." In the Sanggang (Pahang, Malaysia) by-election, BN polled 6,743 votes against Pas's 4,780, giving the majority of 1,963. In the general election last year, BN majority was 1,038. BN has the money, the machinery and the media, dispensing largesse to a state constituency, bent on holding on to the seat. Yet, the majority only increased by 925. The giving of bicycles and other gifts to various areas including those for Orang Aslis, the aborigines, had made a difference. Does this mean that the people are back to the fold of Umno? We are aware that the Prime Minister reiterated his views on globalisation in the G77 summit in Havana, Cuba, last week. He talked about the expoitation of rich nations against poor nations with the latter having no say in the running of world affairs such as global economy. | |
We agree that there has been lack of democracy, transparency and justice for poorer countries. Similarly, many people in Malaysia are experiencing the problems which Dr Mahathir is voicing internationally. We hope that the Prime Minister review seriously the things which are wrong and which are right in this country. Although no country has monopoly over the rights and the wrongs, Malaysia can do better. Some people can say that cronyism and corruption in Malaysia are not as bad as many countries and that the 1997 economic crisis is due to unscrupulous foreign currency speculators, not due to cronyism and corruption. While we agree that the flawed international financial architecture allows marauders to raid poorer countries, the internal weaknesses such as cronyism, corruption, mismanagement, wastage, injustice, lack of transparency and relatively low foreign reserves are also important. We hope that Dr Mahathir looks into the aspirations and needs of the people in the country, their plights as a result of globalisation, their dissent, disaffection and discontent. These go far deeper than the 925 votes increase in the majority of BN by-election victory.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
| | | | | ||||
 | | |||||||
| [ Home | Political | Medical | Personal ] | Article #145 | |||||||
| [ Recent | Archives | Forum | Feedback ] | [
Index
]
| | | | |
| | ||
