A PKR lawmaker has asked if the government is deliberately keeping the people poor in order to secure their votes every five years.

“Is there an invisible hand preventing the poor from getting help, unless it is help authorised by Umno-BN?

“Add to that the high cost of internet access, it appears to be the best way for the ruling party to stop the poor from getting information from the alternative media,” said Kuantan MP Fuziah Salleh in a statement today.

“This (appears to be the plan) to ensure the poor will help to keep them in power on account of some 'sweets', accompanied by five years of pain (after the elections),” she said.

She was commenting on photographs of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor in front of a dilapidated house in Kampung Padang Kerbau, Pahang recently, which Fuziah said demonstrates only two things.

“First, it is only when an election comes around do nearly all the ministers begin to show concern for the people, to the point of volunteering to sweep and sit on the steps of dilapidated houses.

“Second, it is proof that there is still hardcore poor, despite the ministers boasting that Malaysia's economy is improving.”

Fuziah said it is natural this leads people to believe there is a correlation elections and poverty.

“If one of the factors for the continued existence of the poor in Malaysia till now is because of the ruling party's plan to get votes, then it is something disgusting,” she said.

She said observing Umno-BN candidates, the strategy used is to give out basic necessities and food items, “such as rice with photos of leaders or the BN logo plastered on the packaging”.

This, she said, plays on basic psychology where people prioritise their basic survival needs and feel indebted to the giver, including feeling the need to give their votes.

“The question is, why are there still hardcore poor in Malaysia? Why are there still people living in dilapidated houses?” she asked, citing government claims that there are no problems with the economy.