Ambiga: Parties in power have agenda to keep people poor

Source : Free Malaysia Today    Sheith Khidhir Bin Abu Bakar | September 30, 2017

KUALA LUMPUR: Lawyer and human rights activist Ambiga Sreenevasan has accused certain quarters holding the reins of power in Malaysia, of deliberately keeping people in poverty to make them believe they are dependent on those ruling over them.

“When you are poor you are very susceptible to fear, and those in power can easily keep their grasp on power by telling you that you are dependent on them by giving you the occasional handout,” she said.

Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14

Malaysians are confronted with three issues that impacts on the quality of life and standard of living of the various key sectors of the population: youths stuck with spiraling debt, workers facing stagnant wages, and patients confronted with a rising cost of healthcare.

At the heart of these problems is the widening inequality in the country, one that is skewed in favour of the rich.

At present, at least 11 youths go bankrupt daily because they are unable to pay their education and housing loans. 57% of parents go into debt to pay for their children’s education loans. The loans are subsequently transferred to their children who are burdened with debt even before they secure employment.