Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
During the flood crisis that hit the Klang Valley recently, it was ordinary citizens and foreign residents who jumped in with offers of help: donations, cleaning up houses, free babysitting services for volunteers, and so on.
This was due to the government’s failure to respond quickly and efficiently to the disaster.
Instead, like with many other large scale events in Malaysia, it was turned into a media circus in which some politicians have displayed their lack of humanity.
1. Rina Harun and her Pendidikan Moral-esque photoshoot
Our Minister of Women, Family and Community Development was spotted armed with a pressure washer at a floodstruck area, claiming that she was helping with the cleanup.
Malaysian netizens, who are about as observant and incisive as Sherlock Holmes, pointed out that she was cleaning an area that had already been cleaned. This was reflective of an issue that was repeatedly brought up during this administration: the performativity of the state and its leaders.
JKM later stated that she was cleaning gecko feces. This response only prompted more ridicule.
2. Minister of Finance “kindly” offers flood victims interest-free loans + Umno Youth Chief claims flood victims want to withdraw EPF
Tengku Zafrul, our Minister of Finance, said that interest-free loans given to flood victims by Bank Simpanan Nasional will be increased from RM5,000 to RM10,000, to which Malaysians are wondering: why can’t the government just give flood victims money?
It seems absolutely ridiculous to give flood victims loans when many of them have lost their livelihoods and homes. Tengku Zafrul thinks that a 6 month moratorium will help with that.
Oh wait, they are giving flood victims some financial aid: to the tune of RM1,000. How is RM1,000 supposed to be enough?
On top of that, Asyraf Wajdi, Umno Youth Chief, has also claimed that flood victims are urging for another round of EPF withdrawals to be allowed. Again, what is it with politicians refusing to give financial aid to the victims?
3. PM cuts ahead of ambulance at floodstruck area with huge convoy
Our Prime Minister was featured in a video that went viral. It showed his convoy of at least 19 vehicles blocking the passage of some vehicles, which included an ambulance and a 4WD belonging to the Red Crescent.
The explanation given by the traffic police was that it would have been dangerous to give the ambulance right of way because of the location at a junction, justified by a traffic law. The ambulance also had its siren turned off and had no patients onboard.
Netizens have pointed out that regardless, the ambulance should have been given right of way as the area was hit by floods and the ambulance was probably doing humanitarian work even if it wasn’t carrying a patient – and that politicians and their large convoys have a habit of being a hindrance to traffic when it comes to ordinary citizens.
4. Kuala Langat MP provides aid with boxes that have his face printed on them
A Twitter user took a photo of the boxes of items donated by MP Dr. Xavier Jayakumar. On the boxes were full colour printouts of the MP’s face and name.
Source: @CenPolo (Twitter)
The OP of the tweet remarked that this was probably why aid was received so late from the politicians. Others said that they thought that the logo and pictures were stickered onto the boxes – but no, the images were printed onto the boxes.
Malaysians have seen it as just another publicity stunt by another politician.
5. PM’s photo op gives Malaysians secondhand embarrassment
Right after the floods happened, our PM went onto the ground to visit the area. The result is a video that he posted on his Twitter page.
Malaysians have criticised the video as an inappropriate publicity stunt, noting that his response to the flood was slow in coming and that it was used to further his image amongst the people. He was slammed online for not actually helping the flood victims, but instead taking advantage of the situation for his own purposes.
The combination of the tragedy and the response from the state has radicalised Malaysians to a level of anarchy that is rarely seen in the conservative country.
Malaysian culture usually prioritises obedience and deference, but residents have finally said that enough is enough. Malaysians were additionally incensed by the government’s attempt to collect donations from people, questioning why donations were needed when taxes were already paid to the government.
And yet politicians have still not grasped the source of Malaysians’ ire towards them and how it could be soothed: by them doing their jobs.
For more stories like this, read: “The Malaysian Way Of Eating Food” Is Simply To Eat Food (Or So I Thought), Malaysian Politicians Claim Use Of English To Name Places Is Reducing Malaysianness – Is This True?, and 5 OTHER Times Malaysian Politicians Became #KemaluanNegara.
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