Two wrongs don't make a right

Speculation suggests that the next General Elections is at hand. With all the talk of Prime Minister Najib seeking a new mandate from the people to push his agenda of reforms, it is only natural for the Pakatan Rakyat to scramble to gain or retain support from the people. But I, personally, do not agree with how the Selangor government has acted recently.

The Malaysian Insider reports the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government has allocated RM1 million for each of the constituencies it currently holds. Chief Minister Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said Barisan Nasional assemblymen are being excluded from these allocations because the federal government had similarly discriminated against PR representatives.

But two wrongs don't make a right, does it?

I cannot but to disagree with the Selangor government in this one. Firstly, by denying the RM1 million allocation, the state government is also withholding funds of which every citizen of Selangor is rightfully entitled to. Is that being fair and just?

Punishing voters for not voting you is wrong. It is not ethical. The state government serves the people, regardless of political creeds, and the folks in the Selangor government should know better when it comes to separating party from government.

By excluding BN-controlled constituencies from these allocations, the state government is also punishing their own supporters in those areas, mind you.

Secondly, is this also not vote-buying in nature? The PR leadership was quick to condemn Najib's "you help me, I help you" speech during the Sibu by-election last year but continues to remain silent in this one. For those who may not recall, Najib promised to sign a cheque of RM5 million to resolve flood woes in Rejang Park if BN candidate Robert Lau wins.

“The understanding is quite simple. I help you, you help me. If Robert Lau becomes the MP on Sunday, on Monday I will ask the cheque to be prepared.,” Najib said to a spirited response from the 1,000-odd crowd mostly Chinese.[link]

BN lost, eventually.

RM1 million may not seem a lot and may not even make a huge difference in urban areas like Petaling Jaya or Subang Jaya. But that sum may go a long way for rural constituencies where proper roads, bridges and other infrastructures are lacking.

That said, it doesn't really matter if it's RM1 million or RM100 million, it is the act of discrimination that I disapprove.

I want Malaysia to move forwards and away from such childish politics. Someone's got to be better man (or party, in this instance) and make the first, right move. I truly hope the "better alternative" would show they are indeed the better one.


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