In 1979, Selangor exco member V L Kandan initiated a housing scheme for estate workers in Tennamaram Estate in Bestari Jaya, Selangor.
Working with the plantation owners, houses were built for the workers after their employment had ended. This scheme was supposed to be replicated in other estates in the state, especially where plantations were converted to townships but after a change in the exco line-up, the matter was forgotten.
The issue of housing for retrenched estate workers has always been contentious with owners and workers on different ends, arguing their case.
On Monday, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming announced that the government has agreed to resettle 245 rubber estate settler families who work in five farms in Hulu Selangor namely Ladang Mary, Ladang Nigel Gardner, Ladang Bukit Tagar, Ladang Sungai Tinggi and Ladang Minyak.
He said this housing project was a result of a collaboration between his ministry, the Selangor state government and Berjaya Corporation Bhd.
Was this a temporary or instantaneous response to the workers who had been clamouring for their houses for several years? Or was it for the benefit of the parties in Saturday’s Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election?
Or is this the start of a commitment by the government to put a firm plan in place to provide housing for thousands of workers nationwide?
Will promises be kept?
Will anything change after the by-election? Will there be a better quality of life for the constituents or will it be the same grind all over again?
With a solid majority in the Selangor state assembly, the outcome will mean little to Pakatan Harapan. A loss, especially to the PAS candidate will certainly send a chill down the spine of many leaders.
Manifestos have been published and promises have been made. They have been repetitions that were used previously but not successful though.
Will they be kept? Or will they be forgotten or become non-existent as in the past hustings? Or will we be told that changes (read: reforms) will take time?
They cannot be taken to court for broken promises as in May 2013, the Court of Appeal held that an election manifesto is not legally enforceable.
In a landmark ruling, the three-member panel led by Justice Mohd Hishamudin Mohd Yunus struck out a civil suit brought by a group of single mothers who were seeking RM10.9 million in allowances over the Selangor government’s alleged failure to fulfil its 2008 general election manifesto.
The big-wigs - ministers, menteri besar, and the lot - with more undertakings had already moved in to bolster the campaigns.
For good measure, an image of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar appeared on a vehicle carrying a banner with the Harapan flag.
But the denials came fast. Ng Sze Han, Harapan’s election director for the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election, said there was neither an order nor permission to use a photograph of the king in its campaign.
As usual, the blame was put on “over-zealous” party workers.
The MACC opened an operations room for the public to channel information and complaints of corrupt acts and power abuse in the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election.
Similar rooms were set up in past elections but, sad to say, there has not been a single prosecution although there were incidents of blatant vote-buying.
In Kuala Kubu Baharu, PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan claimed to have evidence of bribery by his opponents.
He warned they would file an election petition if Perikatan Nasional lost the by-election.
However, instead of denying the accusations, Harapan’s response was typically political.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the PAS leader’s defeatist attitude showed that PN’s morale had collapsed and it was as if they were almost ready to surrender.
Of images and photographs
If the Harapan candidate wins, it will be claimed to endorse the Madani government’s policies. However, a loss or even a reduced majority will leave the likes of former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy to claim his mantra of persuading the Indians not to vote Harapan worked.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s absence from the campaign trail has been conspicuous, delegating Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari as the “poster boy”.
But gone are the days when voters are swayed by images and photographs. Even Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh, the Umno Youth chief who caused a ruckus over five pairs of socks with the words “Allah” has made a cameo appearance of sorts.
Probably aimed at the Chinese community, a banner bearing Akmal’s face and name on one side and the DAP candidate Pang Sock Tao on the other said: “You can boycott KK Mart but don’t boycott KKB (by-election). Please vote for DAP.”
As the campaign intensifies over the next two days, more promises will be made and more undertakings will be given.
Whatever is said must certainly be taken with more than a generous pinch of salt. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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