As a non Malaysian, (and you might find this next comment strange), but I am very proud of what your country has achieved.
My father fought here from 1950 to 1958 serving with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers Regiment, The Parachute Regiment, and with the 22nd Special Air Service, and he was in Kuala Lumpur on Merdeka Day, so as a young boy I was brought up with stories of Malaya.
My father was also deeply touched by what he saw, whom he met, and what he experienced here having seen active service in Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Perak.
He never fails to mention Malaysia in the most warm and loving way. He feels a great affinity with Malaysia and its citizens.
I am proud to have seen the development of the country since I first visited back in 1987. I am proud for all of Malaysia's people despite the difficulties that each race and culture sometimes face during this transition from developing to developed status.
But I am also worried.
There is a large part of the community, who come from all races and religions, who are being forgotten, used, and persecuted.
The Government recently released statistics that it aims to reduce hardcore poverty in Malaysia to 2.8% of the population by the end of 2010.
So by its own admission, the Government believes that, (with a total population of 27.7 million), over 700,000 people are hardcore poor.
That is HUGE.
Recent statistics from the UK, (with a population of 60 million), states that the hardcore poor stand at less than 4,500 individuals nationwide.
How is this, I hear you ask, cause I asked the same thing.
Simple. The UK is a Welfare State where huge amounts of tax revenue are used to support the poor who have fallen through the cracks.
So here is the rub.
Does Malaysia want to become a Welfare State?
Do the hardworking citizens of Malaysia want to see their tax increased to support a 'handout nation'?
Then why does Masyarikat insist on enforcement operations to lock people away in facilities that the street people have described as 'detention centres'. In fact Dato Seri Sharizat had this explained to her when she was on the streets with Reach earlier this year by the street folks themselves.
Why can Masyarikat not loan the poor the MYR600 they need as a deposit that DBKL require when DBKL have found housing for them. I thought that there was an allocation of MYR5,000 per head as stated by the Chairwoman of the most recent Kementrian meeting that I attended. Or perhaps I was mistaken or heard wrongly. This can be paid back in installments from the meagre incomes some of the poor make.
The folks in power have a chance to solve this and eliminate the dangers of a Welfare State that are looming before Malaysia and in fact implement a model that will make Malaysia a global leader in the issue of eradication of urban and rural poverty.
If not, I am fearful that more will fall through the cracks and the numbers will increase.
I am seeing the numbers increase monthly in Reach Org's Street Feeding Programmes.
So what is Reach doing about this I hear you ask? Its a question I would ask.
The solution has been presented to The Ministry For Women Children and Community Development. The Reach strategy paper "A Vision For Humanity" was agreed, but has now regrettably been ignored. I can produce the minutes from Kementrian meetings, and can also produce the document itself.
Maybe I will post it here one day, and let others decide if it should have been implemented. There was certainly enough enthusiasim from Government when it was first presented and agreed. Ideas hijacked by individuals trying to make a name for themselves.
So we will go on our own with the support of private enterprise and do our level best to solve this problem. Not for Reach. Not for any of us. Not for the Government. But for those that are in need.
So, I wish everyone a very happy Malaysia Day, especially my friends on the street who are proud Malaysians despite being ignored and subject to frequent enforcement operations against them.
They are Malaysians too you know.
My father fought here from 1950 to 1958 serving with the Kings Own Scottish Borderers Regiment, The Parachute Regiment, and with the 22nd Special Air Service, and he was in Kuala Lumpur on Merdeka Day, so as a young boy I was brought up with stories of Malaya.
My father was also deeply touched by what he saw, whom he met, and what he experienced here having seen active service in Johor, Pahang, Kelantan and Perak.
He never fails to mention Malaysia in the most warm and loving way. He feels a great affinity with Malaysia and its citizens.
I am proud to have seen the development of the country since I first visited back in 1987. I am proud for all of Malaysia's people despite the difficulties that each race and culture sometimes face during this transition from developing to developed status.
But I am also worried.
There is a large part of the community, who come from all races and religions, who are being forgotten, used, and persecuted.
The Government recently released statistics that it aims to reduce hardcore poverty in Malaysia to 2.8% of the population by the end of 2010.
So by its own admission, the Government believes that, (with a total population of 27.7 million), over 700,000 people are hardcore poor.
That is HUGE.
Recent statistics from the UK, (with a population of 60 million), states that the hardcore poor stand at less than 4,500 individuals nationwide.
How is this, I hear you ask, cause I asked the same thing.
Simple. The UK is a Welfare State where huge amounts of tax revenue are used to support the poor who have fallen through the cracks.
So here is the rub.
Does Malaysia want to become a Welfare State?
Do the hardworking citizens of Malaysia want to see their tax increased to support a 'handout nation'?
Then why does Masyarikat insist on enforcement operations to lock people away in facilities that the street people have described as 'detention centres'. In fact Dato Seri Sharizat had this explained to her when she was on the streets with Reach earlier this year by the street folks themselves.
Why can Masyarikat not loan the poor the MYR600 they need as a deposit that DBKL require when DBKL have found housing for them. I thought that there was an allocation of MYR5,000 per head as stated by the Chairwoman of the most recent Kementrian meeting that I attended. Or perhaps I was mistaken or heard wrongly. This can be paid back in installments from the meagre incomes some of the poor make.
The folks in power have a chance to solve this and eliminate the dangers of a Welfare State that are looming before Malaysia and in fact implement a model that will make Malaysia a global leader in the issue of eradication of urban and rural poverty.
If not, I am fearful that more will fall through the cracks and the numbers will increase.
I am seeing the numbers increase monthly in Reach Org's Street Feeding Programmes.
So what is Reach doing about this I hear you ask? Its a question I would ask.
The solution has been presented to The Ministry For Women Children and Community Development. The Reach strategy paper "A Vision For Humanity" was agreed, but has now regrettably been ignored. I can produce the minutes from Kementrian meetings, and can also produce the document itself.
Maybe I will post it here one day, and let others decide if it should have been implemented. There was certainly enough enthusiasim from Government when it was first presented and agreed. Ideas hijacked by individuals trying to make a name for themselves.
So we will go on our own with the support of private enterprise and do our level best to solve this problem. Not for Reach. Not for any of us. Not for the Government. But for those that are in need.
So, I wish everyone a very happy Malaysia Day, especially my friends on the street who are proud Malaysians despite being ignored and subject to frequent enforcement operations against them.
They are Malaysians too you know.
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