There's a difference: Tony Pua on DAP's Putrajaya promise
Harakahdaily
PETALING JAYA, Aug 16: Petaling Jaya Utara member of parliament Tony Pua has defended DAP’s three people-friendly plans it promised would be implemented if voted into power the next general election, saying they are not election bribery.
He was responding to a suggestion by UMNO Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin that the announcement by DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng last week showed the party was also committing election bribery, an accusation it made against UMNO president Najib Razak when he made by-election promises during the recent Sibu election.
“Basically, we'll give you a thousand bucks if you vote for us. You guys the pot or the kettle? This is a promise of a specific benefit to a specific group if you vote a certain way. Same thing,” Khairy had said.
Lim last week had announced three major policy initiatives if Pakatan Rakyat manages to capture Federal government, among them are the abolishment of the ‘saman ekor’ and practice of blacklisting owners of vehicles, annual allowance of RM1,000 for the elderly and free wi-fi connection throughout Malaysia.
In a Twitter posting, Pua took pains to show the difference between DAP's announcement and Najib's infamous speech in Sibu, where he said he would release RM5 million if BN won.
“Big difference - Najib's deal – RM 5 million only if BN wins in Sibu even though BN already both state and federal government. That's abuse and enticement.
“Offering bribes is when BN is already (the) government, but promises of development only if a candidate wins in by-election,” said Pua, stressing that giving welfare benefit was the duty of the government.
“By the way, the Senior Malaysian Bonus policy has been in our alternative budget policy since 2007. Not something 'new'," Pua added.
Guan Eng had said the initiatives were not a form of vote-buying as there was no election in sight.
“What vote-buying? We are not even having an election now. Why is it wrong to give money to the people? To the BN, giving money to themselves is not wrong but giving money to the people is,” said the Penang Chief Minister.
4 comments:
Personally, I think this RM1000 per senior citizen is a very poor idea, almost as bad as the Selangor free water. But what to do, many ordinary folk seem to respond best to 'freebies'.
The money would be better spent on improving public systems, education and other expenditure that create or increase value.
Politicians are looting the country , the average Joe has a hard time taking care of the family esp with all the selaras going on and rm1000.00 to the senior citizen is a bad idea ? My reply is not fit for print.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvNvf64RsDI
Anwar admitted Malaysian economy is strong. Watch 4:05
Giving money to rakyat is not a bad idea, but simply giving money is really bad and pamper them.
The power of money is very great, it may encourage you to do good nor bad things.
If you are a middle income senior citizen, do RM1000 can help you much? If you are a poor senior citizen, how important RM1000 to you? If you are a rich senior citizen, would you register to entitle for that?
Some of the countries even pay bonus to those who give birth baby, should we fellow them?
What ever money that government distribute, it come from ours also. The government that you and me really want is a government who do care, and spend wisely, so that we feel comfortable and safe.
Money, you may like or dislike it.
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