First for commoners in Parliament
APPRECIATION: Paralympians,
‘tok batin’ and taxi drivers among those invited
FOR the first time in the country’s history, the common men and women got a spotlight in Parliament during the tabling of the 2017 Budget.
Four Paralympic athletes, who won three gold medals and one bronze medal in Rio, were speechless at being given the honour to appear before Parliament yesterday.
Paralympians Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi, Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli, Abdul Latif Romly and Siti Noor Radiah Ismail received rousing applause in Parliament during the tabling of the 2017 Budget by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The athletes, clad in their Olympic tiger-print orange sportswear, stood out in Parliament in a sea of mostly dark-coloured suits.
Shot-putter Ziyad, who used to be a kuey teow seller in Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman, was elated when met by the New Straits Times later.
“I’m speechless, I just don’t know Paralympians ( from left) the tabling of the what to say. This definitely means a lot,” he said.
Sprinter Ridzuan, who won a gold medal, was also too excited to say much.
“We are very proud to win medals.” During his speech, Najib said people with disabilities had special and exceptional abilities as they had proven themselves as world-class sports heroes.
Representing Orang Asli were several Tok Batin (village headmen) whose settlements had benefited
Bernama pic from past budgets.
They were Awang Lijon from Kampung Orang Asli Jelebu, Negri Sembilan, and Taha Ahir from Kampung Bukit Bangkong, Sungai Pelek, Sepang, Selangor.
The government, who was concerned
and Siti Noor Radiah Ismail about the welfare of taxi drivers, also invited cabbies Mohd Rais Hasan and Tan Woon Kong.
The duo expressed their appreciation for the government’s efforts in safeguarding their welfare.