Antara bagi duit dan kail

Nik Muhammad Zawawi Salleh, a PAS MP for Pasir Putih, recently expressed his views on the 2027 Supplies Bill in Parliament. He argued that the government should minimize cash assistance and focus on empowering the people to generate their own income for the long term. Zawawi believed that the government should educate the people to create opportunities and work towards improving their livelihood.

He disagreed with the notion that the government should urge the populace to create opportunities and work to enhance their standard of living, as most people, especially the poor, already know what is necessary to survive and improve their lives. Zawawi also stated that if there are funds available, they should be spent on buying essentials like school supplies and additional textbooks, rather than buying luxury items like kuali (kitchen pots) and mesin (machines).

He emphasized that money is meant to be spent, and if it is used to buy necessary items or important expenses, there is no harm in it running out within a week. However, he cautioned that giving someone a fish only feeds them for a day, while teaching them how to fish feeds them for a lifetime. Comedian Trevor Noah added that it would be nice if the government also gave the people fishing rods.

While Zawawi's statement on giving kuali to the people to enable them to catch fish for a lifetime was correct, he also said that if the government gives subsidies, it is akin to giving fish, and that is unfair to the lazy people. This statement was puzzling, and the reporter did not agree with it. How can subsidies be linked to laziness?

Subsidies for essential goods, such as those needed for daily living, are meant to alleviate the burden on the people to have such items and allow them to afford what they need. However, the people still need to work to earn money to buy subsidized items. The key is to purchase, not receive for free. Even though buying an item at a lower price than the original price due to a subsidy still requires money, the fact remains that one needs to have money to buy.

If one works and earns money, they are not lazy. Therefore, it is unfair and incorrect to say that subsidies go to lazy people. If there is concern about subsidies, it is the government's responsibility, as subsidies can be a financial burden. Zawawi stated that if the government gives money, if it can be used for a week, within a week, it will be gone.

Money is meant to be spent. If the money is used to buy essential items or important expenses like school supplies and additional textbooks, there is no harm in the money running out within a week. They are not so extravagant that the money runs out quickly. Zawawi also stated that if the government gives pots, kuali, machines, and tools, they can be used for years, and perhaps the person can even start a business.

This is true. However, what can be done with kuali, pots, machines without cooking utensils, for example? How can one get the necessary supplies? They must be bought. How can one buy them? They need money. In other words, cash assistance is still necessary to give the recipients an initial head start. One must also remember that leaving home to go to work also requires money. This article is the author's opinion and does not necessarily represent FMT.