Charity Begins At Home But Not In Anwar S Malaysia

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GOOD news, Malaysians! Your rural schools may be falling apart, your hospitals might not have enough doctors, and your elderly pensioners could be living below the poverty line – but don’t worry, because Malaysia is building a school, hospital, and mosque…in Gaza!
Yes, in case you missed it, our very generous Madani Government has decided to help in rebuilding efforts in a war zone in collaboration with the private sector while our own rakyat struggle to get by.
Former international trade and industry minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said it best on her social media posting: “Helping Gaza is commendable, but can we first fix Malaysia before playing hero on the world stage?”
The destruction in Gaza is heartbreaking. The humanitarian crisis is real. But Rafidah raised a crucial point – Gaza is on disputed land. Buildings get destroyed, rebuilt, then destroyed again.
Until there’s a permanent resolution to the conflict, what guarantees do we have that Malaysian taxpayers’ money won’t go up in smoke the next time bombs fall?
Meanwhile, back home, Malaysia’s rural schools are literally crumbling. Some still have no proper roofs. Students in Sabah and Sarawak cross dangerous rivers just to get to class. Shouldn’t we prioritise Malaysians first? After all, charity begins at home.
And let’s talk about hospitals. Walk into any government hospital today, and you’ll see patients waiting hours for treatment due to a shortage of doctors. But don’t worry, because we’re building a hospital in Gaza!
Oh, and many pensioners are living below the poverty line. Let’s fix that first before we repatriate our money abroad.
This isn’t just about money – it’s about political priorities. Is Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim doing this because he truly believes in helping Gaza, or is this about securing Malaysia’s image as a champion of the Muslim world?
Is it a diplomatic flex to impress the Arab world? Because if the government wants to help the Palestinians without burdening taxpayers, Rafidah’s suggestion makes perfect sense: Set up a special humanitarian fund, invite private donations, and make it tax-exempt.
Let Malaysians contribute voluntarily instead of making all taxpayers foot the bill when many are struggling at home.
What’s truly frustrating is the double standard. The government jumps at the chance to announce grand international commitments, but when it comes to domestic problems, the urgency is almost non-existent.
When it comes to rising food prices, the government assures us they are “working on it” which, in reality, often means they have no real solution.
Public transport breakdowns are met with the usual promise of an investigation, but commuters already know what that means – nothing will change. As for corruption, leaders loudly declare their commitment to reforms, yet time and time again, no one is truly held accountable.
But when it’s Gaza? “We will rebuild!” No debate, no hesitation, as Anwar positions Malaysia as a “global saviour”!
This is not about turning our backs on Gaza. They deserve every bit of help they can get. But why is it so hard for our leaders to prioritise Malaysians?
If our government was as quick to solve our own problems as it is to announce overseas initiatives, maybe, just maybe, Malaysia wouldn’t be in such a mess.
Johan Abu Bakar is a Focus Malaysia viewer.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of  MMKtT.
- Focus Malaysia.

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