MELAKA: The country’s wealth should be used to improve the people’s welfare, rather than to make elected representatives and political leaders wealthy, said Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The Pakatan Harapan secretary-general, who is also home minister, said the primary responsibility of elected representatives was to resolve the people’s problems, not use their positions to amass wealth.
“Our country is wealthy, but elected representatives should not be. They work for the people. When the country prospers, its wealth can be used to provide for and safeguard the welfare of all segments of society.
“That is why we elect our representatives,” he said when speaking during a ceramah in Klebang here.
Also present was PH candidate for Klebang Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir.
Saifuddin said the government’s ability to manage the country’s wealth effectively had enabled it to provide various forms of assistance to the people, including fishermen, small traders, rubber tappers, padi farmers and senior citizens.
He said government assistance, including the RM200 Early Schooling Assistance for school pupils and RM2,500 aid for Form Six students, reflected efforts to use national resources to ease families’ financial burdens.
He said the unity government had also managed the people’s cost of living, including by maintaining petrol prices at RM1.99 per litre through subsidies despite rising global crude oil prices.
“That is how the Madani government manages the country’s expenditure. Just show your MyKad. Now, oil prices are high because the United States (US) has attacked Iran.
“Shipping routes are blocked. Oil prices are rising. Global crude oil prices are rising. But prices at petrol stations have not gone up. We can still buy petrol at RM1.99.
“Why have global oil prices increased while petrol station prices have remained unchanged? Because the MADANI government provides subsidies to keep pump prices low. That is how we look after the people’s welfare,” he said.
On another matter, Saifuddin said Farzana Hayani was capable of serving as an effective elected representative in Klebang, given her experience working at the Prime Minister’s Office, which could help her channel residents’ complaints to the relevant authorities.
“If she becomes the elected representative here, and, for example, residents say the street lighting is inadequate and more street lights or solar-powered lights are needed, she can easily write to the prime minister and convey their complaints.
“I am confident the prime minister would readily agree to the request and approve it,” he said.
He also reminded the people not to be influenced by political campaigns that played on racial and religious sentiments, which could lead to divisions within society.