A GROUP of youths that previously protested rising costs of living will be taking to the streets once more following alleged inaction by the Government on the matter.
The TURUN movement will be convening again outside the SOGO shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur next Saturday (Aug 20), the anniversary of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s one year in power.
Dubbed as Himpunan Kerajaan Gagal, TURUN wants the pay of ministers to be slashed, a smaller Cabinet and the entire Cabinet’s one-year pay and allowances to be returned.
“As the Cabinet appears to be collecting their pay without working, it is better for the rakyat’s money to be returned to them, especially during drastic times as now,” TURUN’s committee said in a statement.
“It is clear that the actions, policies and conduct of the Ismail Sabri and UMNO-led Government have failed in all aspects because they only want positions to be in power and not because they have ideas and thoughts on progressing the country further,” they added.
“Therefore, we only have one choice: TURUN (go down to the streets).”
TURUN also urged all Malaysians to join them at 2pm on Saturday to collectively call on Ismail, the Cabinet and the rest of the country’s leadership to work for the rakyat and “not for themselves”.
TURUN is made up of a loose collective of mostly university student associations and youth wings of political parties.
“Failed committee, non-actions and mismanagement”
Listing its reasons for the need to protest, TURUN said the Special Jihad Taskforce Against Inflation that was announced by Ismail 44 days ago was a “failed committee” as no action has been taken or additional aid provided to those affected by the rising costs of living.
The group also noted that none of its five demands made during its previous gathering SOGO on July 23 were fulfilled by the Government.
Besides calling for ministers’ pay to be cut, TURUN had urged the Government to control the prices of goods, continue providing subsidies, deliver appropriate assistance to the people and address food security issues.
TURUN said it was also troubling that Ismail has not responded to issues that have cropped up over the RM9 bil littoral combat ship (LCS) scandal, despite being defence minister before this and “surely knowing what was going on”.
“Actions and responses from earlier on and now show that Ismail Sabri is not a leader and does not deserve to hold the office of the prime minister,” TURUN said.
TURUN pointed to the disastrous December floods, the late resolution of hospital contract worker issues and Malaysia’s drop of seven points on the 2022 International Institute for Management Development’s (IMD) World Competitiveness Ranking (WCR) as “clear warning signs” about Ismail Sabri’s “failed management” of the country.
It also noted that the sovereignty of the country “failed to be defended” after two Petronas subsidiaries in Azerbaijan were seized following a Spanish court’s granting of a multibillion ringgit award to the alleged descendants of the Sulu sultanate.
Besides that, cybersecurity issues continue cropping up, while allegations were made that a pro-Government “troll farm” has links to the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM).
“Ismail Sabri also did not demonstrate bravery or integrity when it comes to corruption after the corruption case involving Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki was seemingly closed.
“Besides that, Malaysia became the joke of ASEAN when Datuk Tajuddin Rahman was said to be appointed as Malaysia’s ambassador to Indonesia, and then removed from consideration for possibly bringing shame to the country,” TURUN added.
The police will most likely brand next Saturday’s protest as an illegal one and block vehicles from entering the protest venue, as they did during the last TURUN protest. – Aug 13, 2022
