Malaysian politician greatest skill… Talk and Talk!

by Dr R@28

• Malaysiakini reported that PM says that the listing of FGV is good for settlers. He said that the settlers are expected to get a windfall. He had to resort to using his fathers name to convince the settlers. He said. “I give you the guarantee – your annual bonus, duit raya, RM40, 000 loan for house renovations and funds for socio-economic projects – will continue. 

“As for those who are getting 14-15 percent dividends from Felda Investment Co-operative (KPF) – it hasn’t reached its full potential just yet – and therefore we cannot guarantee the dividends in future,” What’s the problem with this statement? From my understanding, the settlers will continue to get what ever they had been getting i.e. status quo. Therefore where is the big windfall? He cannot even commit to the 14%-15% dividend payout. Therefore what he is saying is that the settlers are expected to get less that what they have been getting. My point then why should they support this restructuring? Clearly what the PM must do is to show explicitly to everyone exactly what is the windfall and when are they going to get it?

• While Najib made one promise over his father’s grave, Anwar made a similar promise that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will immediately renegotiate all “lopsided” agreements with independent power producers (IPPs) and revamp national land development authority Felda once it is elected into federal power. Immediate renegotiation does not mean immediate resolution of issues. It may take forever and I am sure another set of excuses will come out as time goes. It is not easy to renegotiate something that has been inked without having to compensate any potential lost of profit or revenue. Either way, I see it as a convenient political promise that has a major impact on the nation coffers.

• While the politician talk and make promises, the ordinary people listen with awe. The promises made are populist promises. It meant nothing other than good to the ears. Many people trust what ever the politician says en verbatim. They listened with their mouth open and clapped relentlessly. Their needs are different from the ordinary people in the street. Why does the people continue to listen and believe this people? In BA I am still waiting for the SSG to respond to my simple dare which I posted a few days ago. So far no news.