My Dear BALKIS..

no la. i am not talking about a woman. but a group of women. BALKIS is Badan Amal dan Kebajikan Isteri-Isteri Wakil Rakyat Selangor (translation: Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation). i have been following the BALKIS issue for the past week. a quick summary. three days after the recent GE, BALKIS members decided to dissolve BALKIS and had transferred RM 9.9 million from its coffer to BAKTI (Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers).

i wont touch on its legality. if they say they acted within the constitution of BALKIS, then i would take their word for it. but i do have a couple of nagging questions to ask:

ONE, in Sunday Star, Datin Seri Zahrah Kechik, the head of BALKIS (wife of Dr Khir Toyo, ex Selangor MB), said that they did it to prevent the funds from falling into the hands of the new government. and Dr Khir was quoted as saying that they are worried the money, which was raised for the welfare of children, would not be used for the correct purpose.

it is heartening that you are concerned about the children. but on what basis made you worry the new government would use the money for other purposes and stop assisting the children?! if they were to do that, then the rakyat would know - we would make sure of that. and they would be 'punished' in the next GE.

TWO, in The Star today, Dr Khir said that the membership of BALKIS is not exclusive. wives of all reps and MPs could join, but membership was not automatic. it is subject to the approval of BALKIS's committee at the AGM.

If that is so, what is there to be afraid off. it means that the current committee can still have control of BALKIS by not admitting new members ie wives of Pakatan Rakyat's reps and MPs. let's not argue on morality - whether it is right to do so. i am talking purely on strategy. the current committee of BALKIS can still be in power and continue with their social work.

The dissolution of BALKIS and transfer of the money have left a bad taste in my mouth. it should not have happened in the first place. if you say it is an NGO, then leave politics out of it. you should have welcome the wives of other reps and MPs into BALKIS. and work together. as i said in one of my posts, social work is an area where both sides should and could work together. who would benefit here? the children. our children.