KOTA KINABALU: Leaders who failed to safeguard the well being and interest of the people should immediately step down and let others who are more capable to take over the task, said Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Youth Chief, Au Kam Wah.
He stressed this in a statement issued in Sandakan today, in respond to the latest fuel price increase announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on Wednesday.
He especially regretted that not only that the government failed to ease the people's burden amidst the high inflation rate currently experienced by the nation but, instead proceeded to announce a steep fuel price increase.
The Elopura state assemblyman also said the Federal government has reneged on its election pledge that it won't hike the price of fuel within this year.
Such assurance was later reiterated by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Ahmad.
This, he said had inevitably caused the people to lose their trust and confidence in the government.
He also argued that the latest move to increase the fuel price has completely contradicted Barisan Nasional's (BN) proclamation of providing "security, peace and prosperity" as contained in its last election manifesto.
"This inevitably gave the people a bad impression that the government always preached one thing but did another," he said.
He also feared that the steep increase of fuel price would trigger what he termed as "economic tsunami" that would inflict devastating suffering to the people.
He noted that the people’s frantic rush to the petrol stations on the eve of the fuel price increase has clearly indicated its impact on the people, besides the government’s failure to take into consideration of the people’s interest and wellbeing.
He was also of the opinion that the latest fuel price increase was too much, unreasonable and unacceptable to the people.
“The people just can’t accept the reason given by the government that the latest increase in the fuel price was to subsidise food and other items. The increase in fuel price will only cause prices of goods to go up and the rebates given by the government are just too insignificant compare to the additional cost incurred to the people, as a result of the fuel price increase,?he pointed out.
He further noted that the increase in fuel price would not only burden the people but, also lead to more social issues including the smuggling of subsidised goods and illegal money lending activities which would only become more rampant.
He thus reiterated that those leaders who failed to safeguard the people’s interest and well-being should immediately step down gracefully, so as not to drive the people to a dead end.
SAPP
Sabah
1 comment:
There is a difference between UMNO and Barisan Nasional. I want to make it clear that it is not the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, but the UMNO government. It is not the government, but UMNO. Barisan Nasional is a coalition of unequals, not equals. UMNO is the big brother in BN. Therefore UMNO must be held responsible; and more importantly, UMNO must not be allowed to hide behind the BN banner. UMNO is the enemy, not BN.
I have come to the conclusion that the easy solution is to completely defeat UMNO in the next elections.
In the 2004 elections (11th General Election), the voters gave good support to Mr.Abdullah Badawi. But reforms did not come. Why? Probably because UMNO had done well in the elections. If UMNO had done well in the elections, then the election results tell UMNO that the voters are satisfied with the status quo. If the voters are satisfied with UMNO, then no reforms are necessary. In the 2008 elections (12th General Elections), UMNO did not do well, but she managed to win. UMNO did lose the 2/3 majority in the Parliament, but she did win, nevertheless. Will UMNO undertake reforms now? I would not be surprised if she did not. Why should she? UMNO is still the winner in the elections; and she can plan to rise and may even succeed to rise again. So, as long as she wins, she will never undertake the reforms. So, how do the voters get the reforms that they need? The voters will get the reforms when UMNO is completely defeated in the 13th General Elections. If UMNO wins zero seats in the next elections (13th General Elections), then some other party would have to rule Malaysia. Let us call it Party B. If UMNO is completely defeated in the next elections (13th General Elections), then Party B would rule Malaysia. Would Party B undertake reforms? If Party B does not undertake reforms, then voters would know what to do.
So, the next step for Malaysians is to completely defeat UMNO in the next elections.
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