Big Cabinet, big inconsistencies, says Rafidah

 

Former minister Rafidah Aziz asks if the government is looking into the plight of the various sectors of the population.

PETALING JAYA: Former minister Rafidah Aziz has taken a swipe at the government’s “bloated” Cabinet, saying it remains incoherent in formulating and implementing policies despite its vast size.

Rafidah said there were daily instances that reflected a lack of clarity from the government, which left regular people in “suffering and despair” amid the uncertain times brought by the pandemic.

She pointed out how some farmers under lockdown were not able to harvest their produce, resulting in their crops being destroyed, and asked where the agriculture and food industries ministry was amid all this.

“Is there no monitoring of the agriculture community, such as in the highland vegetable farming areas? Yes, there were Covid-19 infections in one farm. The ministry should monitor this sector, working with the state government and state authorities.

“The Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) could have stepped in to buy or arrange for the offtakes of whatever farm produce there are, and ensure they get to retailers.

“It can even be arranged to be donated to the needy. It is terrible to see such farm produce go to waste, when there are people putting out white flags because they have no food,” she said.= in a statement.

Rafidah questioned if the education minister and his two deputies were looking into how to revamp the delivery of education, warning that Malaysia could not afford to lose generations because Putrajaya failed to respond adequately to the new normal.

She also asked if the women, family and community development ministry was looking into the rise in suicides in the past year,  and called for long-term solutions instead of just handing out food baskets.

She urged enforcement authorities to be more empathetic to stall owners during this time, even illegal ones, saying some officers preferred the “scorched earth” approach in enforcement.

“Every ministry and department must engage with their respective stakeholders all the time, especially when a new policy is planned to be introduced.

“I am sure by now ministers know which groups are their respective stakeholders. And I do not mean voters, party members and supporters. They must be proactive at the grassroots level.

“It is not just us taking care of ourselves (kita jaga kita). It is us taking care of all (kita jaga semua). Because ‘kita’ might be simply interpreted as ‘us’, ‘our people’. No, it’s the people at large in our society.” - FMT