by Sherina Yusof
Ustaz (male Islamic teachers) and ustazah (female Islamic
teachers) in Gombak cannot help but feel taken for a ride by Prime Minister
Najib Razak and his administration.
A few days before his much-hyped Budget
2012 was unveiled on October 7, all of them had received a letter from the
district Education office or Pejabat Pelajaran Daerah to attend a half-day
course at the SRJK(C) Kundang school.
This raised eyebrows as many wondered what could be so
important that such short notice was given to demand their attendance for the
course. The location of the school sparked suspicion as there were Islamic
religious schools in the Gombak area, which could be better used to host the
course.
Trapped
Nonetheless, in good faith, hundreds of these Islamic or PAI
education specialists gathered at the designated school to attend the weekend
course on the morning of October 8, the day after Najib had presented the
Budget 2012 in Parliament.
Then in the afternoon, the PAI teachers’ attentions were
suddenly disrupted when slowly but surely, the school’s compound was filled
with people who were obviously not part of their profession. Most of them were
wearing T-shirts with the 1Malaysia logo on them. Suddenly, a group of workers
went up the stage and switched the banner that was used as a backdrop for the
one-day PAI course with another banner, welcoming the arrival of Najib!
The religious teachers tried to dash off but were
unable to leave the hall because of an influx of BN supporters streaming in.
Their cars also choked up the school compound, blocking and preventing other
vehicles from leaving.
Suddenly,
it's showtime
Then the magic moment and the magician himself arrived. To
the din of a lion's dance and the sound of the Indian drums, Najib turned up
followed by Chinese and Indian BN supporters. Guess who provided the Malay
element to make the Najib even a truly 1Malaysia gathering. Yes, it was the
unsuspecting Ustaz and Ustazahs.
"Congratulations to the Gombak PPD for succeeding in
using teachers for BN’s political interest for the umptenth time! It shows that
Najib's 1Malaysia is the most exaggerated exploitation and lies ever," PKR
MP for Ampang Zuraida Kamaruddin told Malaysia Chronicle.
In his speech at the event, Najib had announced several more
projects to show the BN government’s concern towards the Gombak residents.
Among these were the 'instant' road project to link up Kundang with Bandar
Tasik Puteri, valued at RM4 million. According to Najib, the proposed road will
make it easier for the residents to go to the capital by using the new Kuala
Lumpur-Kuala Selangor (KLKS) Expressway.
Another
scam, show-project or pure apathy?
But experts were sceptical of the plan, which they insisted
sounded "magnificent" but was not practical. Even though the project
will give a little relief to the residents of Bandar Tasik Puteri and the
surrounding areas, who currently have to face traffic congestion everyday to go
to the Plus Highway, the project to link Kundang with Bandar Tasik Puter does
not really solve their problems.
Residents commitee heads in the area said this was because
there were no exits on the KLKS Expressway to Kundang, only an entry. This
meant that whomsoever wanted to exit to Bandar Tasik Puteri would have to take
the exit to Puncak Alam and Kota Puteri instead, which is located 4 km ahead.
In other words, the residents would have to backtrack and travel even more
distance than before.
Rawang assemblywoman Gan Pei Nei pointed out that everyday
there were approximately 370,000 cars using the FT3209 Federal Road from Pekan
Rawang to Batu Arang. Traffic is always heavy in front of the Rawang PLUS toll.
Why was there no exit till now, she queried.
Residents also said the entry into the highway was located a
mere 3km from the service centre of Umno assemblyman for Kuang, Abdul Shukor
Idrus. Why had not Abdul Shukor, who is also the Information Chief of Selangor
Umno, notice the situation and suggest the simpler and more logical solution,
which was an exit, rather than a RM4million link road?
"The question that arises is, doens't Najib and his
advisers do any research and homework before simply announcing projects that
benefit no one except the contractors," said Ahmad Idrus, a Bandar Tasik
community leader.
Source : MC
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