Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu believes there is just too much political talk in Malaysia, at the expense of real issues affecting the people.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia deputy president was once again asked if Perikatan Nasional (PN) truly had the numbers to overthrow the federal government at Perak Bersatu’s Hari Raya open house at Dewan Jubli Perak on May 9.
Ahmad Faizal instead said he hoped that there would be more conversations and views to address the weak ringgit, the rising cost of living, and creating more opportunities for small and medium enterprises, to name a few. He stressed that people would rather hear about solutions than the daily rhetoric on eradicating corruption.
The former Perak menteri besar and Youth and Sports minister shared his views with Twentytwo13.
People are getting nauseated by the political scene in Malaysia. What are your thoughts about this as several states brace for polls soon?
Ahmad Faizal: I agree. There’s just too much politics in our daily conversations. When I go to events, I get asked the same questions, “Do we (Perikatan Nasional) have the numbers?” and “Will there be a change in the federal government?”
But these conversations are at the expense of real issues, issues affecting the people. Of course, it is nauseating. The Federal Constitution and the spirit of democracy allow for a change of government but there’s no point changing the government 100 times if people are still suffering. People will think that there’s no point in voting if it’s just all rhetoric and political talk, and no concrete steps are being taken to address the problems.
What do you think are the major concerns affecting Malaysians at this point in time?
Ahmad Faizal: The cost of living is a serious problem. We are talking about prices of daily household necessities, to foodstuff … they have all gone up. The economy is slow and the people’s earning capacity has stagnated. How do you expect them to live? Some can adjust their lifestyles, but others are already scraping the bottom of the barrel and there’s nothing left. How are we helping these people? It’s not just about handouts, but creating economic opportunities so that they can stand on their own and put food on the table. These are the basic issues that must be quickly tackled.
There are no more Public Service Department scholarships for first degrees in the medical field. Why? Even the Malaysian Medical Association questioned the rationale.
Earlier this month, Bank Negara Malaysia increased the overnight policy rate (OPR) by 0.25 per cent to 3 per cent. This means that borrowers will have to fork out more money to service their loans, at a time when prices of things – from food to basic necessities – have gone up.
Isn’t the government already addressing this via initiatives like Menu Rahmah and the setting up of the National Action Council on Cost of Living?
Ahmad Faizal: There are initiatives. But there is also the daily rhetoric about helping the people, about eradicating corruption … these are all just words, feel-good soundbites. No government or sane Malaysian wants to promote corrupt practices … that’s a given. So, all this talk about fighting corruption, while sounding good, is not solving real problems and enabling people to put food on the table. Malaysians want to hear solutions, instead. For example, providing incentives for hawkers or stall owners to carry out their trade, or creating various activities over the weekend, in various localities on a regular basis, to spur the local economy.
I really hope our prime minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) can give his full attention to these issues and come up with solutions.
Talk is cheap. How have Bersatu and PN, being the opposition, helped the people?
Ahmad Faizal: My office in Tambun is still open. My free hearse and ambulance services remain active, despite losing the Tambun parliamentary seat in the general election (last November). The offices of our other MPs also remain open and they continue to serve the locals despite not having any allocation from the Federal government.
Welfare-related initiatives are being done, and that was seen throughout Ramadan and Hari Raya. If we have more funds, of course, more can be done.
Everyone, from politicians from both divides, the civil service, corporations, the Press, to the men and women on the street … we should all continue to champion people issues. We have to ignite that ‘Malaysia Boleh’ sentiment again. We have to believe in what we are doing and take it seriously. We all have our responsibilities, even those in the opposition.
I want the government to focus on the people’s well-being and survival. That should be the utmost priority. We must seriously look at fixing the bread and butter issues, or I like to call them, ‘isu nasi dan lauk’.
