Voters will rebel if BN ignores cost of living issues, warns Umno delegate

Muzliza Mustafa Muzliza Mustafa Updated 8 years ago · Published on 8 Dec 2017 10:20AM · 4 Comments

Barisan Nasional may lose the general election if voters decide to express their anger via the ballot box, says Umno Federal Territories delegate Rizalman Mokhtar. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 8, 2017.

ANGRY voters could vote against Barisan Nasional if the government fails to address cost of living issues, said Umno Federal Territories delegate Rizalman Mokhtar.

“We talk about the general election, about the people’s choice, all of which depends on how the people feel and what they perceive. If the people feel good, they will give us the mandate, but are they feeling good now?

“I have to say the truth even if it is bitter. Today, the people are crying at the rise in cost of living. They are crying at the uncontrolled increase in the price of goods. It’s a time bomb that can explode in our faces if it is not handled well,” said the Umno Bandar Tun Razak division chief.

He said it was a problem for all of those gathered today at the Putra World Trade Centre, where the Umno annual general assembly is taking place.

“We are affected as well but because of the principle of wala (loyalty) we have kept quiet to protect the party. That’s us. But the fence-sitters, they may express their anger through the ballot box and that is something we cannot deny,” he said.

The grassroots leader said everyone was affected by the rising cost of living, whether they were Umno members or not.

“It’s not like Umno members get discounts when buying stuff. Umno members buy the same things.

“If we conduct programmes for the people, where we give aid to them, at the same time, we are crying because we, too, have nothing in our pockets.

“We held a programme where we gave out vouchers, but at the same time, a party member said he had nothing in his kitchen to cook.

“We did a programme to give free petrol, but at the same time, the youth in Umno could not afford to fill up their fuel tanks.

“This is the story of the people out there. We have to tackle this or it will bring us disaster.”

Rizalman said the responsible ministries and agencies must quickly act against profiteers.

“If greedy businessmen are the cause, if they are trying to control the market and sabotage the government, then use the laws that we have to bring them to book.

“The people out there are watching. Do we really understand their plight and their inspiration?”

He praised the government for continuing the 1Malaysia People’s Aid, or BR1M, cash handout programme.

“If we want to win the general election, we have to win the hearts of the people out there. It is not enough with the people in this hall.

“May Allah bless our efforts, and with God’s grace, we can give a bigger mandate to our president Najib Razak, our (acting) deputy Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and our vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein.” – December 8, 2017.

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Comments

  • Greedy businessman? For us Rakyat, it is more of greedy and corrupt poltical leaders in UMNO that should be dealt with in the first place starting from MO1 all the way down.

    Posted 8 years ago by PM Moey · Reply

  • During GE 13 OPPOSITION party specifically mentioned in the last sitting of the Parliament and and in party election manifesto that PRICE OF ESSENTIAL GOODS WILL GO ROCK HIGH. DATUL SHILA MAJIB MENTION IN DEPT A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THE D.G. OF THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE Mr.SERIGAL DENY SO. NOW TODAY 8/12/17 BIG ONIONS IS SOLD AT RM5.50 SEN A KG AND SMALL ONION IS SOLD AT RM 12.00 PER KG AT NSK WHOLESALE.. DO YOU SEE HOW COST OF LIVING HAD SHOOT UP UNDER UMNO/B.N. RULE . DO ONE THING WE SHOULD CONTINUE B.N. CORRUPTED REGIME.....WELFARE OF THE NATION NOT TAKEN CARE.

    Posted 8 years ago by Mohanarajan murugeson · Reply

  • Please lah Sir, stop blaming businessman profiteering. I am a businessman myself and yes I agree that some businessman are profiteering, but not all. Look at the exchange rate of MYR against other countries. Last time we used to spend RM10 to import 10 items. Now with the same amount, we can only import 7. Then with less items to sell, we have to pay extra about 40% shipping fees to get the goods to our shop. So the cost for that item already gone up from RM1/item to about RM1.50-RM1.60/item. That also not including GST. So what do you expect? Of course we have to increase the price. That increment also is not at full. We have to absorb some cost ourselves.

    I'm sorry but please don't tell me that our currency is the getting stronger now. We are NOT. Our currency is recovering only, NOT getting stronger. We are still nowhere near where we used to be. GDP is showing good number so what? Even the GDP shoot up 500% also mean nothing if we can't feel it.

    Let's be very straight here. I don't care who rule. I vote for good economy, good education & safe environment. If there is anyone can deliver at least 75% of above, I'll vote for that person. For now, BN really deliver none.

    Posted 8 years ago by UpDown LeftRight · Reply

  • In this days and age, they want to talk about "greedy businessman"? Seriously they need to pass a law that political party members have to get at least a B in basic economics before they can join..

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply