By Sherilyn Pang
SHAH ALAM, Feb 4 — States led by the opposition Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition continue to address the people’s problems amidst the Covid-19 pandemic through various initiatives put in place using states’ budgets, says opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“To be fair to the state of Selangor, we are sharing about how its government is continuously working to address the problems faced by groups hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic, which is quite detailed and holistic,” said Anwar in response to the Kita Selangor Package announced by the Selangor administration last month.
“We have no objection against budgets dedicated to addressing Covid-19. However, when efforts to help the people during these trying times divert towards pouring funds into spearheading political engines such as J-Kom (Community Communications Department), this is the area which we are trying to question.
"There is no commitment for the cause when pressing issues often fall on deaf ears,” Anwar said during a live discourse on his Facebook page titled ‘Covid-19 Discussion: Preparation by States’.
Also featured on the show were Selangor Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari, Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Aminuddin Harun and Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“These are ongoing state efforts that identified problem areas, instead of giving announcements all the time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar had also characterised the government’s implementation of issuing compounds to offenders that breach the standard operating procedures (SOPs) as a double standard.
“People are already cynical about these penalties because it is carried out in a double standard manner. Leaders can disobey the SOPs, but it is the people who are having to pay for all these fines.
“Like in Sabah, people going out to find food are instead getting penalised with hefty fines. How can they pay? With all the underprivileged and poor people, they want to raise the fine from RM1,000 to RM2,000. This is a new kind of disaster for the people,” he added.
