YOURSAY | Double standards in flood relief work

YOURSAY | ‘The colour of attire and logo trumps hunger during a disaster.’

Muhyiddin can wear party colours, but I can't?' - PKR leader

IndigoKite6964: The claim by Johor PKR Women's leader Napsiah Khamis about being allegedly prevented from distributing aid at a Pagoh flood relief centre while wearing PKR's colours, only to see former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin descend on the scene in Perikatan Nasional (PN) attire clearly demonstrates one thing, and that is the suffering and hardships of people have been used for political gains.

People need help as they have nothing left after the floods. How can the district officer face the victims who are in pain and grief and stop the aid just because it was an opposition political party or NGO delivering it?

I am sorry but PKR is no different from PN. If PKR was in power, the district officer would stop PN just like they did with PKR.

What am I getting at? Simple. When you really want to help people, even if you are wearing shorts and T-shirts, people will remember you and they will know in the next election that you walk the talk.

You don't even have to advertise who you are and from which party you are in. Like what Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) did (kudos to them). Even the police didn’t know it was them until after the aid was delivered.

Pomp and circumstance will only be remembered as ulterior motives, and promises will be forgotten after the election.

That said, there will be those who love the pomp and circumstance and will remember the party colours only. But I won't insult the intelligence of those who are truly thankful to receive help in times of their greatest needs regardless from where it came from.

Who gave that kind of cruel instruction to the district officer anyway?

Coward: I would argue that because it is an initiative by a political party, wearing party colours is required to distinguish that the contribution is from a political party.

It is no different from me wearing my company's colour when on official functions to tell all attendees that whatever I say and do are influenced by my affiliation with the company. In fact, my company requires this. We are not allowed to hide our affiliation on official business.

The local government and police are part of the administrative branch. They have no right to tell anyone what they can or cannot wear. They must be apolitical, and this includes rejecting unreasonable requests from politicians such as this one.

Of course, the culture here is being corrupted to the point that civil service is forced to act for politicians.

OxymoronicTendencies: Indeed, how else then can these politicians, like Muhyiddin, win the hearts of the electors if they don't use their power and influence.

Of course, there has to be a double standard. Otherwise, people will quickly realise that they are truly not worthy of the political office they hold.

BobbyO: The people are already divided by the politicians according to race and religion. This is already creating serious damage to the nation.

Now even when the people are suffering from the devastating floods and in need of many necessities, these selfish heartless politicians even go to the extent of dividing the people according to what you wear.

How low can you go? This clearly shows the wickedness in the hearts of humans. In order to win support for the elections, they are willing to deprive people of their basic needs.

Dr Raman Letchumanan: So, the colour of attire and logo trumps hunger during a disaster? What mentality and humanity do these humans dressed as politicians ostensibly serving the people have?

So, what colour should sanitary pads be for it to be politically kosher? Or instant noodles? Do the recipients need to be dressed in a certain colour to receive aid?

These hungry and desperate people should repay by voting in the right people.

Bad Feng Shui: This lot don't even bother to pretend to be fair anymore, do they? They are so uninhibited in their abuse of power because there are no more checks and balances.

The whole system is corrupted from top to bottom, and there doesn't seem to be anybody with authority who has the courage to voice this out. Malaysia is doomed if there is no drastic change.

Drngsc: This is not Keluarga Malaysia. This is “Keluarga Kita” and “Keluarga Lain-lain”. We the non-Malays see and feel this every day, it’s nothing new to us.

Our businesses must obey the standard operating procedures (SOPs) or else severe fines are levied on us involving thousands and hundreds of thousands of ringgit. Yet, people fly out unvaccinated and fly back with the Covid-19 virus and no one gets punished.

This is Malaysia. One rule for them and another for us.

GreenMoose7204: I agree with many of the sentiments here that politics has taken over what it means to be a Malaysian – a person who cares enough to give whatever they can to help fellow Malaysians in times of need.

So, while there are many that do so without the fanfare and glamour of being photographed, there are those (like Muhyiddin and many of the members of the cabinet) that need to be seen.

Yet, these are the ones that will be voted for time and time again.

Purple Occa 8200: We have observed many incidents about how the present government handles the flood disaster. They play politics to make people believe that they are the only ones who care and are there to assist the victims.

All Malaysians are aware that this government and its ministers have failed miserably. I hope the people will remember who really came to their rescue.

The politicians from PN/BN only cared for themself to enrich themselves. They don't perform, they rob, they support corruption and they lie. How can we rely on such a government?

We are screwed now but come the 15th general election, the game is ours. Vote PN/BN and any of their politicians out. None of them should be around. There are some in the opposition who need to be removed too - vote them out.

Hopefully, we will have a better Malaysia.

The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now.

These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.