Saturday 20 October 2007

Is This A Valid Regulation?

I need enlightenment here and I need it fast. I am a teacher but teachers could also sometimes be dumb you and ignorant you know. Hey, being dumb and ignorant is not the sole privilege of ministers and politicians okay?

I am confused as to something that was related to me by my wife yesterday. I don't feel like blasting anybody for it because in this country anything is possible.

Alright, alright, I'll get to it now. My wife has a nephew who is about 39 with a wife and 3 kids, 2 of whom are schooling. He is not rich. In fact, we could count him as one of those who are poor. His is definitely one of hand to mouth existence. He works as a tele clerk.

He has applied for a government funded house or whatever you call it. In Penang, and I think the same goes for every state, one first register with the state department, and then wait for some units to be completed. They are usually 2 room flats. The rental is quite affordable by today's standard.

He has been waiting for quite some years now and still did not get any. Recently, out of frustration he paid the responsible unit a visit to enquire about his application. After keying his reference number, the clerk said that he is unsuccessful. When he asked why, the answer was "You are not registered as a voter".

What has registering as a voter got to do with one's eligibility to get a state built house? This is after all a democracy. I am all for voter registration but this should not be a pre-requisite to own a state built house.

18 comments:

tokasid said...

Salam che'gu:

This is the first time I heard/read about it. I thought the answer would be: "You are not an UMNO member".

Darn!If one is a registerd voter one would be eligible, right?Now its for a housing unit. Who knows maybe this requirement will be for other things.Maybe when you apply for the cooperative loan. Don't be suprise if you want to buy a ticket( express bus) from Penang to KL the counter clerk will tell you :" Maaf encik, tiket tidak boleh di jual kepada encik kerana encik bukan pengundi berdaftar".

This is an abuse of whatever system we have.But being the Malaysia Boleh mentality that we have, everything and anything is possible.
I think your nephew should see someone higher just to make sure.

(Suddenly I'm feeling hangin satu badan)

cakapaje said...

Salam Cikgu,

What Doc mentioned above is quite right. The suspicion falls on umno as this - forcing one to become an umnoian - was a practice in many agencies and glc's.

In a democratic process, citizens have the right to vote or not wanting to. Likewise with registration as a voter. Perhaps one of the reasons why one is now 'forced' to register, is so that spr-umno can manipulate with the voting list of constituents throughout Malaysia.

ZABS said...

Salam Che'gu,
Setuju dengan Che' gu, apa hal pulak dah jadi pengundi berdaftar baru layak dapat sea rumah kerajaan? Itu baru nak sewa, kalau nak beli mesti jadi ahli Umno/Gerakan pulak ke? Dah tu, kalau dah ada syarat tu berilah tahu awal2, jangan sampai ditanya selepas bertahun2 baru diberitahu.

Unknown said...

Doc, Cakapaje, Zabs,
I tend to agree with cakapaje. They want to manipulate the electoral list. Maybe this particular name will appear twice and in neighbouring constituencies otherwise why should being a registered voter be made mandatory.

cakapaje said...

Cikgu, have you tried visiting an_archi / wak segan lately? I tried several times but could not access!

Mior Azhar said...

Salam che gu:
I think (just as Tokasid rightly said), the real reason would be "You are not an UMNO member." It happened... apatah lagi Malaysia kan serba serbi boleh. And you are right, with PLU coming, they need to manipulate the list - like last year's general election, my nrother's name appear in two lists , one in Shah Alam and one in Pasir Mas Kelantan. Huh?

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

this is ah koon's teritory. he should be the culprit whs is very much responsible for such silly policy. i say drag him down as he's got one hell of an explanation to do.

zorro said...

Nazir, this is what is happening to Ipoh Timur....3000+ postal (read: phantom)votes when there is no military camp or new police post in the vicinity.

Next question: If I register as a voter, when can I get a flat?

tokasid said...

Che'gu..minta laluan.

Unker Zorro, if you are a registered voter,the next question they will ask you is: Are you an UMNO member?( even your Mycard will clearly tell them you are a Chinese)

Unknown said...

Doc, Kerp, Mior, Zorro
They will try every damn thing to ensure victory so lets not hand it to them without a fight.

Unknown said...

Cakapaje,
His son was helping him to give his blog a facelift and suddenly they lost it. He is still trying to salvage it but I think its not gonna be easy.

Mat Salo said...

Chegu.. ini just one of the many forms partai mayu putar belitkan orang susah.Orang susah orang kita jugak. Assholes. Of course it's not legal or valid. Depa saja aje buat arbitrary rules...

On the brighter side I'm in an internet cafe waiting for cakapje to pick me up (kete pi servis) so we can ajourn to kerp's and to kak ton's later...

Unknown said...

MS.
Who knows maybe one day to register your children for school you have to produce proof of being a registered member of a BN component party.

Zakhir's Zoo said...

I think the policy is fair. The Penang State Government wanted to make sure everyone in the state which benefited from state projects, are responsible citizens (like a registered voter). That was a non partisan comment the State Govt employee made. Whether or not one vote does not matter. At least, one had the audesity to register and exercise one's right, whenever the times come.

Look what happened to people who did not even register for so many years, like Rocky. Some quarters abused the fact that on records Rocky did not vote (political parties, be it ruling or oppositions, were allowed to block-regoster voters (as a service to the people) prior to 2002).

Personally, I think its a good thing that ALL eligible Malaysians register as a voter. When the time comes, exercise their democratic right.

As for Cikgu KTN cousins, just register themselves and reapply. Now, there is one criteria fulfilled. Just because things don't go our way because of our own failure, we should not lambast it on others. The condition set is good riddance.

Unknown said...

ZZ,
Welcome to my blog. I think this is the 1st time you commented and thank you. To deny a person, though not a tax payer, being poor and all, just because he did not register as a voter is a little too much from my point of view. If that be the case then they should have informed him when he registered for the house, not leave him on the lurch.
I am all for registration, don't get me wrong. It is the responsible thing to do but to be denied one of the most basic of amenities for something that they themselves do not feel is compulsory is a little too harsh.

Mr. Right said...

KTN,
Report police la. Or bawa ke badan aduan party politic pembangkang. Aku dengar pejabat Anwar di PJ always open for any kind of report. His staff friendly enough to listen any single problem that we currently facing. So, give it a try lah.

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

salam cikgu...

here's a secret. click on zakhir's and u'll be surprised to learn the real man behind the zoo. hehe...

monsterball said...

hahahahaha kata tak nak....You don't need any advise..for no one can advise you on such idiotic reasons for not getting a flat.
I think what the clerk meant was...the flats are meant for Voters ONLY...and not good enough..she may have to swear by the Koran...she will vote for UMNO...hahahahahaha
Seriously...you want my advise? I suggest you tell this to Karpal Singh and sue the property onwer...which is he government for that reason in not getting a flat. Win...you may get flat free!! Loose...eat nasi telor with sambal for a week...okay la.....hahahahahaha

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