Charles Santiago
Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad has warned that child malnutrition in Kuala Lumpur is worrying, citing national survey data showing 23.4% of under-fives in the capital are stunted, 12.4% underweight, about 8% wasted and 7.5% overweight.
And what did we hear from our political leaders? The prime minister talks about the cost of living. Umno and Pas are busy with politics. But a child going hungry?
Silence. That tells us whose voices matter in Malaysian politics.
We have politicians screaming about whether corruption investigations are being ‘weaponised’. We have politicians pushing for an early general election. Many of them are busy calculating power, positions and political survival.
But where is the same outrage when children are malnourished?
A child does not vote. A child cannot lobby a minister or threaten to withdraw support. Maybe that is why the political class can afford to look away. This should shame us all.
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Where are the ethnic Malay political parties? We hear constantly about Malay rights, Malay unity and Malay dignity. But what does that mean to a Malay child going hungry? You cannot feed a child with slogans.
Poverty cannot be partisan. Whether the child is Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli, Sabahan or Sarawakian, hunger is hunger.
The political question is simple: are we fighting poverty, or are we shamelessly fighting for power?
Pas has met in Kota Bharu. Umno holds its assembly this week. Will child malnutrition and urban poverty be seriously debated? Or will political survival come first?
Children cannot wait for the coming general election. Their childhood cannot be postponed until politicians have finished negotiating power.
Charles Santiago is a prominent Malaysian politician, economist and human rights advocate who served three terms as the MP for Klang and has twice chaired the National Water Services Commission.
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
