KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) slammed the Barisan Nasional (BN) for leaving out important elements which will ensure a reformed economy.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PR had outlined four key acid tests for BN “that could and should be implemented immediately” if it is serious in pushing for economic reforms.
He said that “the NEM while having rightly identified and admitted to the weaknesses in the Malaysian economy, it has failed in its prescription by leaving out four critical elements which forms the acid test to ensuring a fully restructured economy.
“PR has scrutinised the 193-page report on the New Economic Model for Malaysia (Part 1) prepared by NEAC (National Economic Advisory Council); released in conjunction with the launching of NEM by the Prime Minister on March 30 2010.
“For a start. YAB Datuk Seri Najb Razak must clarify to the public the status of NEM prepared by NEAC for his Minister of Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Tan Sri Nor Mohd Yakcop has openly declared that NEM is a compilation of suggestions by NEAC forwarded to the government for consideration; and not government policy. This puts into question whether the Government is serious about the NEM, or is it just another public relations exercise!”
Anwar, who was flanked by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, said that the NEM would suffer the same fate as the “Knowledge-based Economy Masterplan” and the “National Integrity Plan” which was launched by Tun Dr Mahathir in 2002, and Tun Abdullah Badawi in 2004.
The four “key acid tests” mooted by PR were:
1. Restructuring four key utilities — electricity, water, toll expressways and broadband services — to lessen the public’s financial burden due to skewed monopolistic commercial arrangements which favour “big crony” corporations.
Example: TNB’s latest admission that the reserve margin in the country has reached a whopping 66 per cent.
2. Implementation of necessary steps to bring the country closer to the introduction of minimum wage to reduce dependence on foreign labour, restructure industries into higher value-added activities and to ensure a social safety-net for the poor.
3. Introduction of added support for young people and young families including review of areas that impose significant financial burden on take-home pay of young families and restructuring of income tax brackets
4. Reforming key institutions to restore justice, fairness and security to the economy, which includes the judiciary, the AG’s Chambers, MACC and the police force.
Besides that, Anwar also pointed out the apparent contradictions between the aims of the NEM and recent cases, citing the “mystery disappearance of RM52 billion worth of Bumiputra shares.”
“Barisan Nasional does not even provide an answer of how such a massive example of rent seeking and misappropriation of well-intended policies by the connected few went undetected for so long even as it preaches against rent-seeking culture in NEM,” claimed the Opposition leader.
He reiterated that meaningful and “holistic” reforms must come first before anything else as the reforms are key to the foundation of the country’s economy.
“Therefore, if BN is serious about re-making our economy and bringing it to a new era instead of a well-staged public relations exercise, it must respond to the four acid tests outlined by PR which will ensure that the interest of the rakyat will be protected,” added Anwar.
MI
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said PR had outlined four key acid tests for BN “that could and should be implemented immediately” if it is serious in pushing for economic reforms.
He said that “the NEM while having rightly identified and admitted to the weaknesses in the Malaysian economy, it has failed in its prescription by leaving out four critical elements which forms the acid test to ensuring a fully restructured economy.
“PR has scrutinised the 193-page report on the New Economic Model for Malaysia (Part 1) prepared by NEAC (National Economic Advisory Council); released in conjunction with the launching of NEM by the Prime Minister on March 30 2010.
“For a start. YAB Datuk Seri Najb Razak must clarify to the public the status of NEM prepared by NEAC for his Minister of Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Tan Sri Nor Mohd Yakcop has openly declared that NEM is a compilation of suggestions by NEAC forwarded to the government for consideration; and not government policy. This puts into question whether the Government is serious about the NEM, or is it just another public relations exercise!”
Anwar, who was flanked by DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, said that the NEM would suffer the same fate as the “Knowledge-based Economy Masterplan” and the “National Integrity Plan” which was launched by Tun Dr Mahathir in 2002, and Tun Abdullah Badawi in 2004.
The four “key acid tests” mooted by PR were:
1. Restructuring four key utilities — electricity, water, toll expressways and broadband services — to lessen the public’s financial burden due to skewed monopolistic commercial arrangements which favour “big crony” corporations.
Example: TNB’s latest admission that the reserve margin in the country has reached a whopping 66 per cent.
2. Implementation of necessary steps to bring the country closer to the introduction of minimum wage to reduce dependence on foreign labour, restructure industries into higher value-added activities and to ensure a social safety-net for the poor.
3. Introduction of added support for young people and young families including review of areas that impose significant financial burden on take-home pay of young families and restructuring of income tax brackets
4. Reforming key institutions to restore justice, fairness and security to the economy, which includes the judiciary, the AG’s Chambers, MACC and the police force.
Besides that, Anwar also pointed out the apparent contradictions between the aims of the NEM and recent cases, citing the “mystery disappearance of RM52 billion worth of Bumiputra shares.”
“Barisan Nasional does not even provide an answer of how such a massive example of rent seeking and misappropriation of well-intended policies by the connected few went undetected for so long even as it preaches against rent-seeking culture in NEM,” claimed the Opposition leader.
He reiterated that meaningful and “holistic” reforms must come first before anything else as the reforms are key to the foundation of the country’s economy.
“Therefore, if BN is serious about re-making our economy and bringing it to a new era instead of a well-staged public relations exercise, it must respond to the four acid tests outlined by PR which will ensure that the interest of the rakyat will be protected,” added Anwar.
MI
20/04/10
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