Bakeer Marker tells public don’t be misled by slogans, vote wisely when time comes

SJB MP Imtiaz Bakeer Markar 

SJB National List MP Imtiaz Bakeer Markar called on Sri Lankans not to lose hope despite the bleak outlook, but called on the public not to be misled by extremist and violent elements that have caused the downfall of this country. He said Sri Lankans must consider what factors contributed towards its downfall, having once been a growing middle-income country, and opined the recent slide began from 2005.

The Kalutara District MP said Sri Lankans fell victim to parties and individuals who cannot provide solutions but thrive on socialist slogans, who are now trying to undermine the public’s confidence in democracy and the parliamentary system. He urged the public to safeguard democratic systems and not be misled by theatrics and hollow socialist propaganda that offer no solutions to the country.

“They know they cannot win power at elections, so they are trying other means to grab power. We have lived through the experiences of the 1989 era, where violence dominated the country and so many youth lost their lives and State property was destroyed. They waged war against entrepreneurs and institutions who were perceived as wealthy capitalists and destroyed the very businesses that paid taxes and brought revenue to fund their healthcare and free education.

“They divided society on socialist and extremist lines, and today we are suffering because of this. No country has solved unemployment and poverty through these slogans. Russia and Eastern Europe are prime examples. There is some wonderful rhetoric but no workable plan,” Bakeer Markar stated, urging people to choose wisely.

The MP said a new year brings hope and expectations, and stated the people must not give up hope despite a difficult year ahead and the trials of 2022, which offered many hardships never seen before. He pointed to examples such as Singapore, Vietnam, Japan and Bangladesh and said Sri Lanka too could use this current crisis as an opportunity to shift to a different path and vision towards development.

Bakeer Marker too stressed the importance of a market-based economy, and said Sri Lanka missed its chance to become an education hub in the region, once again due to pressure mounted by socialist elements and slogans. India and even Nepal are now reaping the benefits of investments in the education sector, attracting students from all over the world, he said.

Sri Lanka is presently governed by a President and a Government that has no mandate from the people, and elections must be held without fail, he said. “The Government is making an attempt to postpone elections, and I am confident the people will show them if that happens. The Government of 1970 extended its term by two years arbitrarily, and the people wiped them out at the next election. We can overcome this crisis, there is opportunity for Sri Lanka and people must not lose hope.”

The MP also lamented the lack of any process to recover monies lost due to corruption, and added despite facts and figures presented in Parliament, the Government has shown no interest in the matter. He remarked the SJB has a plan to steer the country out of the current situation and remarked though it cannot perform miracles, it could set the country on the right path towards sustainable development. 

- Pic by Ruwan Walpola -