Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has already started campaigning for the next general election over the last few weeks.
His repetitive mantra was all about development and progress of the country, particularly aimed at convincing the fence-sitters.
In his fervour to garner votes, Najib has completely dismissed the UNICEF report, which found higher levels of poverty and malnutrition among children living in low-cost housing in Kuala Lumpur compared to the national average.
His cabinet ministers and supporters have taken it one step ahead by dismissing the report, while others quickly said the DBKL was anything but negligent.
In a recent salvo, Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid rubbished the report at the Parliament sitting on Tuesday.
Responding to Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament, Nurul Izzah during the Minister’s Question Time, he dismissed the UNICEF study which showed that children in Malaysia are suffering stunted growth worse than Ghana.
Mahdzir hadn’t however bothered to substantiate his observations and neither has the Federal Territories Ministry.
In sharp contrast, Barisan Nasional Backbencher’s Chief Shahrir Samad, acknowledged the report in a press conference last week, saying that a multi-pronged approach was required to tackle the poverty problem.
Echoing his sentiments, Kuala Kangsar Member of Parliament Datin Mastura Yazid, warned that the government needs to narrow the income gap and special medical treatment to be given to these children living in urban poverty.
It is heartening to see a strong, bipartisan voice in Parliament to speak for these marginalised children.
But I wish the Speaker could have also seen the urgency of the matter.
When I asked Pandikar Amin to allow the UNICEF report to be debated in Parliament last week, he claimed that there was no necessity to do so as six ministries were analysing the report and will take steps to address the issues raised.
Mahdzir’s claim completely contradicts the Speaker’s reasoning.
Many Opposition lawmakers have also asked the government for immediate action to address the plight of these children.
As such cabinet ministers, like Mahdzir, and other government officers shouldn’t lightly and contemptuously dismiss the very real problems faced by poor families in low-cost flats, as described in the report.
The multidisciplinary report was conducted by a team of researchers who worked with 2,142 children from 17 low-cost flats in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
It also includes input from the Ministry of Health, Bank Negara Malaysia, with statistics on income and savings by the Employees Provident Fund in a round-table discussion in mid-January 2018.
By pooh poohing the report, Mahdzir has only conveniently overlooked the issue.
But more importantly, Najib needs to state the government’s stand on the UNICEF report, as the head of government.
Unless of course if pre-election campaigning is more important to him.