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Most people in Kota Kuala Muda are fishermen, who support for extended families. |
KEDAH, Malaysia — More than three years after the devastating tsunami swept away their tiny village, villagers and fishermen in the northern state of Kedah are threatening to punish the ruling party in the upcoming polls after failing to keep its promise of new homes and a better life.
"We will all vote the Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) or Keadilan," Abdul Wahab Zainon, a 57-year-old resident of Kota Kuala Muda village, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Tuesday, February 26.
The village, which used to be a stronghold for the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), a member of the ruling coalition, took the brunt of the December 2004 tsunami.
It suffered the worst damage to homes, boats and businesses, with at least 700 simple wooden shacks damaged or destroyed as well as 12 lives lost.
Like many fishermen and rice farmers who support large families on incomes of only about 500 ringgit (156 dollars) a month, Abdul Wahab was given a letter and keys by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak in 2005 to a temporary settlement with a promise that we will be later shifted to a new house.
Three years later, he still lives in his damaged home with his family.
"It breaks my heart when the promise is broken. I don't know why they did this to me," said Abdul Wahab.
The March 8 snap general elections will pit PAS and two other opposition parties against the ruling National Front coalition, which holds 200 of the 219 seats in the outgoing national legislature.
Candidates are vying for 222 parliamentary seats, after the addition of three new constituencies.
The polls would also see the election of twelve state assemblies with a total 505 seats.
The National Front coalition has governed Malaysia in various forms since independence in 1957.
Misery
Villagers are grateful for fellow Malaysians, who donated up to 85 million ringgit in relief funds to villagers, but angry with the government's misery as there was nothing to be shown for the public generosity.
Shafigam Shuib, another villager, smells an odor of corruption.
"This is a classic case of corruption and wastage," he said, pointing to abandoned food stalls, a community hall and a tsunami museum that were half-built after the tragedy and are now just eyesores after the projects stalled.
"Do we need those structures? No. Why waste the money?" he fumed.
"It should be used to upgrade our broken homes here and upgrade the road which floods whenever it rains heavily."
A 2006 report by Malaysia's auditor-general found that millions of ringgit in aid money for tsunami victims were badly managed.
It also criticized poor construction standards in the repair and building of houses in Penang and Kedah.
Shafigam will take his revenge from the government, democracy style.
"I will vote PAS. I want to deny victory to UMNO."
With an estimated 800,000 members, PAS is the main rival of Abdullah's ruling coalition in the elections.
Once a growing opposition force, the party suffered a humiliating defeat in 2004 general elections, leaving it in control of only Kelantan state.
PAS currently has seven seats in the 219-seat lower house of parliament, down from 27 seats in 1999.
In the town of Kuala Muda, which is part of Premier Abdullah's constituency, villagers' patience appears to wear thin.
"To meet the ruling politician to seek help is impossible. Only his cronies get to see him. Many youths have deserted UMNO," said Latif Hashim, 32.
"Now I climb trees to put up PAS flags. I am going to vote the opposition in the March polls."
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