SOME politicians just aren’t fit to call themselves people’s representatives if their level of greed and selfishness is anything to go by. Viewing those videos and hearing stories of Very Important Persons failing to comply with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during this time of restrictive measures, makes your blood boil and your flesh crawl.
The latest videos circulating of some leaders, including DAP’s, confronting and screaming their hearts out at police officers at a durian farm in Raub can even make souls turn in their graves!
The presence of several DAP politicians, among them Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji and Bentong lawmaker Wong Tak at the spot in the congregation, obviously were to defend those Musang King durian farmers said to have encroached into a permanent forest reserve.
Thank God, the police officers despite the shouting and screaming, remained cool and professional in discharging their duties as public servants.
One of the videos showed DAP’s Ronnie Liu present at the Raub court complex before the remand proceedings against those durian farmers, acting gracelessly, callow and indecorous by uncouthly questioning a police officer who was trying to disperse the crowd. He was clearly trying to obstruct the officer from carrying out his duty. His is a clear display of loutish and impudent behaviour, not befitting his role as an MP.
It seems that after 20 over years, the Pahang state government has finally come down hard to tackle the problem of encroachment in the permanent forest reserve. Encroaching government land, of course, is an offence but opposition members like Liu, surely will not take it hands down. Definitely, he will go all out to defend them, instead of trying to right the wrong.
This durian farmers’ encroachment episode is one of the many cases of non-compliance involving VIPs that have gone viral on social media. Of course, denials will follow as is normally the case but I do believe that it is time for our VIPs to behave like one.
If you were to take the SOPs lightly, do you think your followers and supporters will display similar adherence and commitment? While the rakyat choose to heed the government’s restrictive travel measures by staying at home, these so-called Very Important Persons, surprisingly, in many cases made public, choose to do the opposite. What has become of some of them?
Again on SOP non-compliance, the many photos of luxury vehicles parked at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday had been trending. What is this? A meeting, conference taking place there? Although there has been no official statement whatsoever from Umno leaders themselves, the country has been abuzz with news of its president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi attempting to do something to “overthrow” the present government.
Ahmad Zahid who is facing several corruption-related charges in court is said to be in cahoots with PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, of Pakatan Harapan that comprises PKR and DAP. Since last year, the duo has been together to topple the government, but to no avail. Ahmad Zahid appears to be the main force pushing for Umno’s exit from Perikatan Nasional which is the present Federal Government.
It surely doesn’t make sense that these leaders remain active politically in creating uncertainty in the already difficult situation while people on the street are grappling to put food on the table.
The Perikatan Nasional government, being the government of the day, is going all out to manage the risks that come together with the pandemic through endless aid packages and all. But here, we have VIPs whose actions reflect their disinterest and compromising characters not aligned with the directions the government is taking to fight the pandemic.
They continue playing politics, shirking on their responsibilities to the people and the country amidst these difficult times.
The rakyat has been demanding for politicians to put aside their political differences. They want all of them to be seriously involved in the government’s National Recovery Plan. There is no time to lose. You will be cursed for good if the government’s plan for herd immunity to be achieved before year-end is not met. So, keep politics out for now, focus on the pandemic, and don’t disappoint the nation.
Saiful Azam Mohd Khir
Batu Pahat, Johor.
