Power to the people.

I received further news about Kota Kuala Muda. The victims of the tsunami have moved out from the temporary shelters. Some have returned to their damaged houses. Those whose houses were completely destroyed have either moved to temporary houses or are staying with relatives. But the fishermen are still unable to go to sea. The earliest they will be able to return to work would be in March. Meanwhile, the victims have hardly received any significant financial assistance. The government, who continuously babbles about doing this and doing that, are in reality delaying financial assistance. They emphasise on building new settlements for the victims. These projects would take years to get completed. Do they not realize that the victims need help now? Apparently the army has stated that, if asked, they can repair and rebuild the houses at only RM 15,000 each. But the government has not said anything about this matter. I want to make a prediction… The tens of million ringgit that have been collected will be put into a centralised fund managed by the government. The government will then start “investigating” how best to help the victims. It will include discussions about which crony contractor is the most worthy of the windfall. This “investigation” will take several months. Then contracts will be given to some cronies to build the new settlements. In the mean time, the tens of million ringgit will be put in a fixed deposit somewhere and the government will reap the rewards from this extra income, at the expense of prolonging the victims’ sufferings. Then, a big sum would go to planners and architects who are asked to prepare plans and drawings of the new settlement. After at least three to four years, the victims will at last get their new houses. The houses will be completely empty and the victims need to fork out more money to buy furniture. And they will have to pay a fixed monthly amount to purchase those houses. The government benefits in several ways. First, they get the interest from the fixed deposit. Second, they get to feed the cronies. Third, they get additional money by forcing the victims to buy the newly built, empty houses. Fourth, and most importantly, for the next three to four years they are seen as doing the utmost to help the victims. They benefit in every sense. And it is despicable. What ought to be done is for the funds to be passed on directly to the victims. For every house that was completely destroyed, the victims should get RM 30,000, the equivalent of one low-cost house. Others should be compensated based on the degree of damage. Just create an approximation of the cost of repair and give the money directly to the victims. The victims should be free to do whatever they want with the money. If they want to move away, then they automatically can afford to pay cash for a low-cost house. If they want to repair the house, they can do it at a fraction of the cost because there would be no cronies to feed, no middle-man, no planner, no architect drawings, etc. Just RM 10,000 would go a very long way for a common villager compared to if it were given to government contractors. These villagers have built and repaired their own houses for years. If they have the money, they can rebuild their houses, and their lives, easily. And, most importantly, they must not be forced out from their land by this disaster. If the government were to build new settlements in a different area, then in reality the victims are being forced out from their own land. I strongly believe that the villagers should get the money directly. They are the victims. They must be given full control of the compensation and the donations. It is them who should decide how and where to spend the funds. Not some individuals in Putrajaya who have things other than the victims’ welfare in their minds. Come on…. The least the government can do is to set up a multi-stakeholder committee to manage the donations. In short, the victims are the ones that should decide how they want to spend the donations collected. Not anybody else. That is why I have been going all out to raise money for them, with the help of Muslim Aid. And the money will go to them directly. £14,000 has been sent earlier this week. Another £30,000 or so last week. And hopefully there will be some more very soon.