Holiday trips, cash for residents

Malaysiakini - Kuala Lumpur PKR youth chief Md Zaman Md Tasi claimed that about 30 resident association chairpersons in the area have been offered generous ‘goodies’ by Shahrizat who is also women, family and community development minister.

He alleged that holiday packages to various destinations like South Korea, China and Indonesia have been offered.

"She claimed that her voters are loyal to her. Of course they are when you keep handing out goodies every time elections near," said Zaman.

Zaman claimed he found out about the matter through one resident association chairperson who was supposedly offered the trip but had refused to take it as the person felt it was unethical to do so.

shahrizat women ministry parliament sexist remark 180507 ponderHe informed Zaman that a staff from Shahrizat’s office in Bangsar Utama known only as ‘Ani’ had contacted him numerous times to offer him the trip.

No housing for squatters yet

Sri Pahang flats area in Bangsar Utama residents also told Malaysiakini that the Lembah Pantai MP has been handing out gift hampers and cash amounting to RM50-RM100.

Residents say the gift hampers and cash were meant for senior citizens and the physically challenged in the area.

"She would always come down here during the festive season and provide the residents with gifts, especially for senior citizens," said a senior citizen who declined to reveal her name.

Zaman felt that the poor residents in Lembah Pantai have hidden grouses but were afraid to voice their concerns against the BN government.

"Like the squatters in Pantai Dalam, they have been promised proper housing for so long by Shahrizat but untill now, no proper housing have been provided. They dare not say anything for fear that if they do so, they will be denied of their houses", he said.

Zaman also said that Shahrizat have brought development in the constituency only for the well-to-do and not the poor. He argued that the poor are only loyal to her because of her hand-outs.

The Lembah Pantai constituency is a Malay-majority area with 53 percent followed by Chinese 25.7 percent and Indian 20.1 percent.

Shahrizat has been the incumbent for the Lembah Pantai for three terms. She is expected to face Puteri Reformasi Nurul Izzah Anwar in the March 8 polls.