How much taxpayer funds are wasted on political uniforms? – J.D. Lovrenciear

As we begin to witness Umno and its component political parties running helter-skelter in these troubled times of political instability, there is one very noticeable practice that deserves a thorough investigation. It is the uniformed gatherings we see all too often.

Have you noticed the increased frequency of political party gatherings, and rallies included? Yes.

Have you also noticed that each time the Umno or Barisan Nasional people gather, they are always clothed in some new uniform? And it keeps changing for each gathering.

Wonder who is paying for all these uniformed show of support? Wonder who is also "milking the cows" churning out these large numbers of shirts, dresses, T-shirts?

Even, when the deputy prime minister meets divisional leaders in a highly-secretive gathering, the audience and the speaker himself are donned in a brand spanking new uniform.

Likewise, when the prime minister wants to flaunt his "I Love PM" show of support, you see another set of uniforms.

Every gathering translates to a new set of clothes worn by followers and leaders.

It must cost the government loads of cash to rush such outfits each time they gather in numbers.

But you cannot say the same very often for the opposition political parties. They are in all kinds of garbs – even minus the fashion-label suits and decked jewelry.

Likewise, when the rakyat take to the streets, they choose to buy the T-shirts and head bands on sale. Nobody supplies them free outfits, mind you.

So is it yet another case of abuse of power and wastage of public funds here? Will someone please do the arithmetic and investigate the truth please.

This is no petty matter. Since we are all into the high season of accountability and transparency given the controversial scandal of the century, the 1MDB saga, we must expose all things that are going wrong. And expose we must since Umno-BN themselves are saying that the Auditor-General’s report will be acted upon decisively.

* J.D. Lovrenciear reads The Malaysian Insider.