Rosmah’s prompt act shames ‘e-kasih’

It unwittingly slams Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's poverty eradication scheme, says Sabah DAP

KOTA KINABALU: The shocking exposure by Rosmah Mansor, the wife of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, that severe poverty continues to escape detection in Sabah is a wake-up call for the government.

Sabah DAP chief Jimmy Wong said the government’s poverty eradication scheme known as “e-kasih” has been sensationally confirmed as ineffective following Rosmah’s direct intervention to help a family living in abject poverty.

Rosnia @ Annie Marambal, a poverty-stricken widow from Kota Marudu, had appealed repeatedly for aid under the “e-kasih” programme but was ignored.

The plight of the 36-year-old widow and her three children, living in a one-room, zinc shack at Kampung Kandaway, was widely reported in the media and had caught Rosmah’s eye.

Wong questioned the effectiveness of the “e-kasih” programme under the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, which failed to respond to Rosnia’s plight.

Wong, who is also Sri Tanjung State assemblyman, questioned the methods used to help the poor and the selection criteria for the poverty eradication programme.

He asked how the government had allowed Rosnia’s case to slip through the cracks.

“Rosnia and her family are more than eligible for government assistance under the e-kasih programme for the poor and needy.”

“How poor must one be before assistance is approved by the ministry?” asked Wong.

Dubious programme

He wants the government to be transparent about the “dubious” programme.

“I have been informed that many eligible applicants are not getting assistance because they cannot afford to pay some so-called commissions.

“The minister concerned may not be aware of this and I urge her to check if there is any truth to this matter.

“It appears that the e-kasih programme should be more suitably be called ‘pilih-kasih’ programme,” he said.

He said the party was disturbed to learn about yet another sad case of Sabahans living in abject poverty.

“How could a state government that prides itself on having billions of ringgit in allocations and claiming to be ‘juara rakyat’ allow a widow like Rosni to live in a shack which is not even suitable for the chickens and goats?” he asked.

Wong also questioned the inaction of the Barisan Nasional (BN) representative who has been allocated RM1 million by the government to help the people.

“Isn’t the fund meant for these type of people?” he asked.

Rosmah’s disclosure has embarrassed Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Maximus Ongkili, who is the MP for Kota Marudu and Matunggung assemblyman Sarapin Magana.

He said Maximus should explain how such a poverty-stricken family could escape his notice but could be picked up by Rosmah.

Poverty in blessed land

Wong said there were many other such cases in the district including one concerning a terminally-ill Rohead Nik Dominic, 13, whose plight even moved the Croatian ambassador Zeljko Bosnjak to travel from Kuala Lumpur to visit and assist his poor family.

Bosnjak and a group of volunteers from the Children’s Wish Society constructed a new house for the poor family in a state that is blessed with billions of ringgit in oil and gas reserves.

“We also have not forgotten the 11-year-old poor Kadazan boy Donny Diun who hanged himself because of poverty,” he added. Wong promised to raise the issue of the state’s overwhelming poverty during the next State Legislative Assembly sitting.

“I hope Umno and BN assemblymen will not deflect from the issue by telling the world about my native certificate,” he said in reference to the state government’s focus on his status as a Sabahan.

Wong recommended that Chief Minister Musa Aman and his Cabinet pay a visit to Penang to learn from the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat state government, on the effectiveness of its poverty-eradication programme.

He said he would be more than willing to be the “tour guide” to Penang, especially to make arrangements to meet with Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

He said Lim had won praise for implementing several effective programmes in his three years in power compared to the decades in power by the BN government.