Selling the Rocket to help the hard core poor?

A state DAP-organised programme to help the poorest segment of the community to earn RM1 from the sale of every copy of the party newsletter has come under fire from the state opposition.

State Umno liaison committee secretary Datuk Azhar Ibrahim described the "Buy Rocket Help Hard Core Poor" programme as a disgraceful initiative.Azhar said the effort was an insincere one and that the target group was just being used for political gain.

Tindakan itu dikecam hebat pelbagai pihak termasuk Setiausaha Badan Perhubungan Umno negeri, Datuk Azhar Ibrahim yang menganggap tindakan itu tidak bermaruah dan menjijikkan.

He said the DAP-led Pakatan Rakyat state government had failed to implement concrete action plans to eradicate hard core poverty in the state.

"The programme is more like turning the participants into slaves of DAP. It is an utter disgrace for the party to have stooped to such a level.

"On Thursday, Komtar assemblyman Ng Wei Aik had announced the implementation of the programme as an effort by the party to reduce and subsequently eradicate hard core poverty in the state.

Ng, who is also political secretary to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, had said that the party would not force the community to participate in the programme.

Azhar, who is also Penaga assemblyman, said DAP's tactic was similar to the one practised by the banned Al-Arqam sect.

"In Al-Arqam's case, they used children to sell their publications."As a state opposition chief, I want DAP to stop the programme immediately," he said, adding there was a need for the state government to draw up proper programmes and set aside funds to help the hard core poor.