The harsh reality of the global recession is being painfully felt by many Malaysians, and which is why the recent call of the Prime Minister on all Malaysians to strongly focus on measures to alleviate the country’s economic pains is most appropriate although long overdue.
It is indeed vital that we address this economic issue with much zest, particularly when we already hear of many ordinary Malaysians being laid off or asked to take long leave, and factories closed, leaving a trail of hundreds of vulnerable families, indebtedness and human indignity.
Yes, these are the harsh social realities that Malaysians cannot simply wish away. But, by the same token, neither can they, in particular the Perakians, forget so easily the events that had unfolded in the last few days in Perak.
For these were incidents that involved ‘mysterious disappearance,’ hopping, re-hopping, alleged bribery and threats, and indecent haste, i.e. political shenanigan. In many ways, these factors had brought about despair, frustration, sadness and anger among many Malaysians because they felt that their trust, confidence, dignity and hope for a better and democratic future had been trampled upon in the most callous fashion possible.
These are the ‘political differences’ that the ruling leadership has to address conscientiously in order to regain the people’s confidence in the collective effort to face the recession squarely, among other important things.
For many concerned Malaysians, these events undoubtedly left a bad taste in the mouth, to put it rather midly.
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today urged the people to forget all political differences and instead concentrate efforts towards strengthening the economy.
“Forget any political difference…our focus now is to together overcome the economic situation. The government is prepared to spend, introduce economic stimulus packages, undertake various campaigns to encourage people to support local products. This the path we must take,” he said at the national-level Chinese New Year open house here Saturday.
He said with the world economy in a crisis now, all Malaysians must work together to ensure the country’s economy remains on track.
He said the government was committed and doing all it could to improve the economy so as to ensure the people were not badly affected by the current economic situation.
Mustafa K Anuar's blog 