Don't feel indebted to party over election goodies, says Rafidah

Updated 6 years ago · Published on 24 Mar 2018 3:20PM · 2 Comments

Former minister Rafidah Aziz says Malaysians should not trade the youth's future for temporary riches or gifts. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, March 24, 2018.

FORMER Umno minister Rafidah Aziz today told Malaysians not to feel “indebted” to political parties that gave them goodies ahead of the general elections.

The outspoken party veteran said Malaysians should not feel indebted to a point where they allowed unethical practices to continue, as this would be detrimental to the country.

“We don’t need to be sentimental and ‘loyal’ to a party or any individual. We must not feel ‘indebted’ just because we receive BR1M, increased salaries and allowances, are funded by Yayasan 1MDB to perform the umrah, or because we receive gifts (such as) spectacles, water and biscuits, rice and sugar and money-filled envelopes,” she said on her Facebook page.

Rafidah did not name any individual or political party in her post, but the examples she cited included the cash aid programme Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia and promises made by Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government ahead of the election.

Last year, before tabling the national budget for 2018, Najib said the Barisan Nasional government had pledged over RM3 billion in projects and programmes ahead of the election which must be held by August this year.

Rafidah said Malaysians should remember that “all the money that is spent by any government will come from its citizens”.

She said the things that were forbidden and wrong (haram) should not be made halal or legitimate as this would jeopardise the younger generation’s future.

“Should we trade our youth’s future and not care about the country’s situation just to get a promotion, wages and bonus?” she said.

“Do not ever trade the future of the nation for riches that can only be seen now, especially when the general election is near.”

Rafidah said 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s debts, bribery, misuse of power and misuse of government revenues will affect the nation for years to come.

She said Malaysia had drawn global attention because of these and the world was “curious why the Malaysian authorities are not acting”.

“Actually the Malaysian authorities ‘know and see’ but they practise the attitude of ‘not seeing’, ‘not listening’ and ‘not speaking’,” she said. – March 24, 2018.

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Comments

  • How is this reasoning supposed to work ? If i think you are bribing me, and i take the bribe you offer, it means you and me are in the same boat isnt it ? If you bribe me, and i think it is a gift, i should ask myself , to what reason do i owe this gift isnt it ? I should ask myself: is it hari raya or chinese new year? Is it my birthday? Is it my wedding anniversary ? If it is none of the above, i should decline the gift, because i not fit to recieve it isnt it ? I don't get the reasoning of the likes of Dr Mahathir or Rafidah. I find it complicated and confusing.

    Posted 6 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply

  • How is this reasoning supposed to work ? If i think you are bribing me, and i take the bribe you offer, it means you and me are in the same boat isnt it ? If you bribe me, and i think it is a gift, i should ask myself , to what reason do i deserve this gift isnt it ? I should ask myself: is it hari raya or chinese new year? Is it my birthday? Is it my wedding anniversary ? Am i a kid? If it is none of the above, i should decline the gift, because i am obviously not fit to recieve it, isnt it ? I don't get the reasoning of the likes of Dr Mahathir or Rafidah, who make it sound as if a gift and a bribe is somewhat the same thing, and that we can just turn a bribe into a gift just by wishing it so. I find it it all very complicated and confusing.

    Posted 6 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply