What’s wrong with grads or anyone selling nasi lemak or becoming a Uber driver?

Belittling fresh graduates who or become Uber drivers and sell nasi lemak “to make ends meet”, Malaysia’s longest serving Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad has described them as “an embarrassment” and further asserts “this is something that shames the country when graduates sell nasi lemak. This shows the government's failure to match training and mastery of knowledge with job opportunities.”

Why has Dr Mahathir forgotten his humble roots that he too sold banana fritters or goreng pisang during the Japanese Occupation?

He sudah mudah lupa that he and his protégé Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim were Education Minister and had enacted education policies for both pre-university and tertiary levels. Thus, both shoulder responsibility. 

In fact, on qualifications to be a Prime Minister, he even said that ‘politicians have the “easiest job” as they are not required to have any academic qualifications (The Malay Mail Online, 13 June 2015).’

Why is Dr Mahathir backtracking on his very own example he has established for youths to emulate? From selling goreng pisang, he became Education Minister and Prime Minister and raised children who are multimillionaires and billionaires with a string of companies.

Many Malaysians stare and can only wonder in disbelief as to how Dr Mahathir’s offsprings made it to the  multi-millionaire and billionaire league, in particular Dato’ Mokhzani Mahathir who broke into the Top 10-rich list of Malaysia when Malaysian Business magazine in 2014 named as the 9th wealthiest person in Malaysia with an estimated wealth of RM4.22 billion. Forbes magazine in 2012 listed him as 14th richest man in the nation, up one notch from the 15^th spot in the previous year.

The public cannot be blamed when they question if Dr Mahathir’s sons who sit on boards of companies grew so enormously successful through their own efforts or through patronage.

Dr Mahathir must be honest to himself and ask if he managed to eradicate rural and urban poverty during his administration.

Would Dr Mahathir prefer jobless graduates to become mat rempits, prostitutes and gigolos, snatch thieves and armed robbers, or delve into white collar crime?

It is easy-peazy for Dr Mahathir to make fun of nasi lemak sellers and all hawkers besides ride-sharing drivers when his children have the luxury of basking and surrounded by years of wealth accumulation, and have forgotten about hardships endured in one’s livelihoods.

Successful street food vendors may actually earn heaps more than degree holders, pick up entrepreneurial skills, expand into the restaurant and franchising industries. So don’t look down on them or Uber and Grab car drivers or cabbies. These are simple everyday folks earning an honest living.

Nicole Wong
MCA Youth Vice Chairman

-MCA online-