Political agenda behind RM100 cash aid slammed

Pakatan Rakyat leaders have cried foul over the political agenda behind the RM100 cash aid to school students.

In a letter revealed recently, it was claimed the cabinet directed “elected representatives of the Federal government” to help give out the aid, as it was a “contact point” between the government and the people.

The letter, sent by Education ministry's Rosli Mohamed dated November 11, urged state education departments to take immediately implement the directive “to ensure the distribution of the aid is organised by the schools to fulfil the government’s objective.”

PAS vice president Mahfuz Omar said the RM100 aid was not really meant to help the students or the parents.

“It’s for political interests, to show that UMNO and BN is the one who gives,” said the Pokok Sena member of parliament.

PKR secretary general Saifuddin Nasution lashed out at Rosli for being "unprofessional, unaccountable and dishonest" in carrying out his duty as a ministry official.

“He has turned the ministry into a political tool. I advise him to stop playing politics. This violates the principle of civil servants' ethics to remain neutral,” said the Machang MP

On the other hand, PKR's Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin claimed that in her constituency, the RM100 aid was distributed from UMNO branches instead of schools.

“The aid should be rightly distributed by officers from the government or Education ministry,” she said.

Earlier, there had been complaints that parents were forced to sit through UMNO’s political lecture before they were given the cash.

The RM100 cash aid is part of the incentive to reduce the people’s burden as announced by prime minister Najib Razak at the tabling of the 2012 Budget last October.

-Harakahdaily