Desparate PM - takes LRT, reduce fuel price, now want to erradicate poverty

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the head of BN, the current Prime Minister for don't know how long more, is starting to pull stunts one after the other:-

a) He took rides on the commuter and LRT rail services - to experience the problems of the rakyat.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took rides on the commuter and LRT rail services from Serdang to the city centre yesterday to get a feel of the transport problems faced by the public and came away less than satisfied.

Where’s the train? Abdullah waiting with other passengers at the Serdang Komuter station yesterday. This is a daily routine for the commuters, who complained to the Prime Minister about poor train services. — Bernama

Throughout the one-hour journey, during which he switched trains, the Prime Minister noted the congestion, especially during the peak period, and spoke to his fellow passengers to get feedback.

Speaking to Bernama after disembarking at the Masjid Jamek LRT station, he said he was not satisfied and wanted immediate improvements to be made.

He said the existing services were not systematic, there were not enough coaches and coverage was not comprehensive, leaving many areas not serviced.

“I just saw the plight of people using the trains to get to work every morning. They were jostling to get on board every time a train arrived. There appeared to be no system.

“I’m not happy with this because the people are not getting satisfaction from riding the trains. This we must fix,” he said.

“I found the trains really packed. Some had waited for three trains and yet could not board. - Star Online, 22/8/2008 - PM quietly takes public transport to experience commuters’ problems

But alas, he and/or his Transport Minister and the Cabinet should have done this a long time ago... and it would become so clear what has happened to the Public Transport System.

In KL/Klang Valley - the priority should have been to build more LRT, Commuter lines because there are so many places that are not covered. There is no LRT/Commuter services even to get to the Kompleks Kerajaan (the Government Complex) in Jalan Duta...now there is also the Court Complex there...

Ride the busses too, Mr PM. Try getting a taxi from most places in the Klang Valley. ...is not your son's company, that SCOMI, that has a significant interest and control of public transport in KL and the Klang Valley...

You are the cause of the transport problems in the country - so do not pretend now that you did not know. Was it just an ordinary trip (or was there special preferences given to you, PM), because clearly there are some press who did cause to publish some nice photos of you at the LRT station, and even in the LRT.

What about the East Coast of Malaysia - the train services are still so far behind. There should also be a East Coast coastal line - and a train line that cuts east to west.

b) He reduced the price of petrol...

c) And now, he wants to erradicate poverty in Malaysia before he hands over power to his DPM in mid-2010.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today reiterated he is comitted to

MCPX

retiring in 2010 and during the next two years will focus his attention to eradicating poverty in the country.

“When the time comes for me to retire, I will retire. I will also make sure I will let people know I am determined to eradicate poverty. If I can do that, I will be grateful to God and I'll be very happy indeed,” Abdullah told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.The 68-year-old premier stressed that even if he could not fully achieve his task, he would still step down as promised.

“It has nothing to do with politics, rather the economic situation today. However, we will continue to fight (poverty) and I will do my best,” he said, ...- Malaysiakini, 24/8/2008 -Pak Lah's mission: To eradicate poverty

Well...well, what is the poverty rate in Malaysia? Are you still using that 'old figures' to calculate the number of Malaysians (and Malaysian families) that are poor or hardcore poor?

Well, you cannot - because the cost of living has sky-rocketted....and one of the most significant reasons for this was your very own BAD decision to suddenly increase the price of petrol, diesel, etc... and this caused the price of almost everything to increase...

People who were not poor (or 'hardcore poor') are today efectively poor or "hardcore poor" - but, of course this will not be seen in your BN government statistics where the poverty line is really so unreasonable...

One way that you could resolve poverty on paper - is just lower the poverty line ---- and then there will be 'zero poverty" in Malaysia.

There should be no poverty in Malaysia, which is a rich country full of resources, by now but the BN government in total power for the last 50 years has failed to erradicate poverty, and provide each and every Malaysian family with an house. In fact, you have caused greater inequity in Malaysia. The rich became richer and the poor became poorer. The gap between the rich and the poor is one of the worse in Asia (and in the world).

To save Malaysia, what you should do is just peacefully hand-over the duties and responsibilities of government to the Pakatan Rakyat, and we shall see whether things will improve. Since new brooms will be more efficient - we, in Malaysia, should benefit --- and after that finally in Malaysia, the people will have 2 main choices, i.e. the BN or the Pakatan Rakyat.

One thing that has been happening to the people of Malaysia - is a growth in awareness and wisdom - and no more will they be deceived by the government and/or the political parties...

Unhappy with the conservative Islamic State agenda being forwarded by PAS, with PKR's endorsment by the electoral pact they formed with PAS, the Malaysians, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or culture just rejected them in 2004 - PAS lost Trengganu and almost lost Kelantan. PKR lost all seats save for the seat contested by Wan Azizah.

In 2008, the people are pissed with Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and the BN - and hence the results of GE2008. 5 States go to the Pakatan Rakyat, and the BN loses their 2/3 majority in Parliament.

So, never under-estimate the people - the rakyat - the 'makkal' . Now, it is they who decide who shall be given the power, duty and responsibility to govern the nation and/or the States...

Badawi's taking of the LRT is good - in fact all you MPs and ADUNs should also choose a week and travel around using only the LRT and Busses - this would be very good - and I am sure that after that there will be definite positive improvement of the public transport problems that all Malaysians have been facing.

Many are driving cars today just because of the poor public transport system - we, the people, could have had so much use for the money that we could have saved by not buying private cars - it would have improved our lives in so many other ways..