Still going around the PTPTN debate between UMNO Youth Chief, Khairy Jamaludin and PKR's Strategic Director, Rafizi Ramli two days ago, the issue was about Rafizi's dream on the fact that Pakatan Rakyat could save up to RM30 billion by offering an open tender system.
Let us first put aside on how Rafizi had gotten such number, because we are convinced that with Rafizi not being part of the government, he had only created those numbers by himself during the debate. Of course, who would want to question his facts, it was a live telecast.
Let us also put aside the cost of free education and that such abolishment could raise up to RM150 billion. Writer is not a certified accountant such as Rafizi but writer is aware that the RM30 billion that was 'saved' by Pakatan Rakyat is just not enough to cover the expenses for free education and to abolish PTPTN that was promised by Pakatan Rakyat.
And that is just one of their other promises such as the abolishment of tolls, low fuel prices and others that writer is too embarrassed to write - too illogical.
The thing that writer would like to question here is how much can they really save from using the method of open tender where Rafizi claimed that it could really save rakyat's money. Let us start with stated that are currently under Pakatan Rakyat, Kedah, Kelantan, Penang and Selangor. How much have those states saved from the process of open tender and what are the benefits to rakyat to be compared to BN's previous governance?
Rafizi needs to show these numbers to support his 'facts' that he mentioned during the debate. He could just present it now considering the fact that he did not really get to go on details on the matter during the debate.
Give rakyat the numbers instead of blabbering about things that are not related with Pakatan Rakyat's promise to provide free education and to abolish PTPTN.
For example, what is the relation between the case of NFC and Tajudin Ramli with PTPTN and free education? And Datuk Seri Shahrizat with the NFC loan that was managed by her husband? Does Shahrizat has anything to do with the company?
In the matter of open tender, we know that it is not done for the sake of getting things done with cheap prices. There are more factors that we would need to consider. Even if it is cheap, but the materials and service is bad, rakyat would not be satisfied.
And that is the thing that really matters, service to the rakyat.
Perhaps Rafizi's advantage is that Pakatan Rakyat has a line of supporters who are like parrots where they would repeat everything that are said by their leaders without even thinking. And that is what Anwar, Hadi and Kit Siang want. If their supporters are able to think, each of them would not be able to last in the political arena.
Whatever it is, the important thing now is for Rafizi to reveal every single evidence that he has to support of his arguments. Beginning from the cost-effective open tender process in Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor and Penang. It is not that hard to present those data from the state government. Especially if it is asked from Rafizi, Anwar's wonder boy, everyone would work around the clock for him.
Then present to the rakyat for us to judge on the truth behind the argument.
That is, if Rafizi would want to present it. What is the use of telling everyone that the central government had saved RM30 billion if he himself do not know anything.
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MASIH lagi berkenaan dengan Debat PTPTN antara Ketua Pemuda UMNO, Khairy Jamaludin dan Pengarah Strategik PKR, Rafizi Ramli kelmarin. Isunya berhubung dengan ‘angan-angan’ Rafizi bahawa Pakatan Rakyat mampu menjimatkan wang rakyat sebanyak RM 30 biliion dengan menawarkan sistem tender terbuka.
Ketepikanlah dulu dari mana Rafizi dapat angka-angka itu semua, sebab kita yakin dengan Rafizi sendiri berada di luar kerajaan, dia hanya cipta angka itu dalam kepala otaknya dan keluarkan semasa sesi debat sedang berlangsung. Maklumlah, siapa pula yang nak menentukan kesahihan kenyataan Rafizi itu ye tak, siaran langsung lah katakan.
Ketepikanlah juga kos pendidikan percuma dan penghapusan ini akan mencapai sebanyak RM 150 billion. Penulis bukan akauntan bertauliah seperti Rafizi tapi rasanya penulis tahu RM 30 billion yang ‘dijimatkan’ Pakatan Rakyat itu jauh lebih kurang untuk menampung kos pendidikan percuma dan penghapusan PTPTN yang dijanjikan Pakatan Rakyat.
Itu baru bercakap satu janji, belum lagi janji-janji lain seperti penghapusan tol, harga minyak yang rendah sampai kiamat dan lain-lain yang penulis segan nak sebutkan disini – takut tak masuk akal.
Yang penulis nak persoalkan ini ialah sejauh mana penjimatan dari proses tender terbuka ini benar-benar mampu menjimatkan wang rakyat sebanyak yang didakwa Rafizi. Kita bermula di negeri-negeri yang diperintah Pakatan Rakyat sekarang seperti Kedah, Kelantan, Pulau Pinang dan Selangor. Berapa sudah dijimatkan dari proses tender terbuka di negeri-negeri tersebut dan apa kelebihannya kepada rakyat jika dibanding dengan pemerintahan BN sebelumnya?
Rafizi perlu tunjukkan angka-angka ini untuk menyokong ‘fakta’ yang disebutkannya dalam debat tersebut. Kalau tak dapat semasa sesi debat, boleh dibentangkan sekarang. Bukannya cakap banyak tentang benda-benda yang tidak berkaitan dengan cadangan Pakatan Rakyat untuk memberikan pendidikan percuma dan penghapusan PTPTN.
Contohnya, apa kaitan kes NFC serta Tajudin Ramli dengan PTPTN dan pendidikan percuma? Begitu juga apa kaitan Datuk Seri Shahrizat dengan pinjaman NFC yang diuruskan suaminya? Shahrizat ada nama dalam syarikat itukah?
Tender terbuka ini kita tahulah, bukan semata-mata bergantung kepada harga terendah, ada lebih banyak lagi faktor-faktor lain yang perlu diambil kira. Kalau harga murah sangat pun tapi kualiti barang atau perkhidmatan yang dibekalkan, serendah harganya juga, rakyat tetap tidak akan berpuas hati.
Sedangkan itulah yang penting, perkhidmatan kepada rakyat.
Mungkin kelebihan Rafizi ialah Pakatan Rakyat mempunyai barisan penyokong yang masuk resmi ‘kakak tua’, mengulang sahaja apa yang disebut pemimpin mereka tanpa guna otak untuk berfikir. Dan memang itupun yang diinginkan Anwar, Hadi dan Kit Siang. Kalau penyokong mereka boleh berfikir, tidaklah masing-masing bertahan sekian lama dalam politik walaupun tak sehebat mana.
Apa pun yang penting sekarang ialah masanya untuk Rafizi mendedahkan segala bukti bagi menyokong semua dakwaan air liurnya itu. Bermula dengan penjimatan dari proses tender terbuka di Kelantan, Kedah, Selangor dan Pulau Pinang. Bukan susah sangat mendapatkan data-data tersebut dari kerajaan negeri yang disebutkan di atas, semudah memetik jari saja. Apatah lagi yang minta Rafizi, budak muda kegemaran Anwar, tak cukup tanganlah kakitangan berkenaan menyiapkannya.
Kemudian bentangkan kepada rakyat untuk kita menilai kebenaran disebalik dakwaan yang dibuat.
Kalau itupun Rafizi tak boleh nak kemukakan, apa barang mau cerita RM 30 billion penjimatan wang kerajaan pusat yang dia sendiri pun tak tahu hujung pangkalnya.
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