Dehumanising voters in political decisions

At the Pahang State Assembly sitting held yesterday, a BN backbencher (Dr Nasharuddin Zainuddin - Tg Lumpur) wanted to know whether the state government has a policy to help opposition-held constituencies to which the deputy MB Datuk Tan Aminuddin Ishak said no, but added: "If you want to help the opposition, you can do so."

To me, that suggestion is loaded with sarcasm. It implies that if any BN leaders were to help the rakyat to obtain development funds in opposition-held constituencies (say to upgrade a road or facilitate electricity and water supply connection to rural areas or even repair a dilapidated school), it also means that they are "helping" the opposition.

Is this fair to the rakyat who all pay taxes to the government of Malaysia, irrespective of who you voted for at the ballot box? Did the BN government conveniently forgot that in an opposition-held constituency, it does not mean that every single rakyat of that constituency voted for the opposition? So those who voted for BN deserves to be punished along with the rest of the "anti-government" voters? I guess politics can harden some people and make them less compassionate towards the suffering of their fellow human brothers and sisters.

I am watching with interest the Pengkalan Pasir By-Election which will be held on 6 December 2005. It will say alot about how the people there felt post-GE 2004 and 2 years after the euphoria of Pak Lah's big win and what's been happening in the country since then.