SHAH ALAM: In a rare show of unity which should set alarm bells ringing in the corridors of power, delegates from three opposition parties agreed on a common agenda to push forward for a new Malaysia in their bid to end Barisan Nasional’s hold on Putrajaya.
The common policy agenda approved by Keadilan, PAS and DAP
may sound like an election manifesto – hefty oil royalties for states, including Sabah and Sarawak, scrapping of tolls for highways in seven years and 50 percent cuts in transport for the elderly, students and the handicapped are just a few of the carrots.
And with elections expected to be held by the end of next year, the document may well serve that purpose, except that it offers a broader insight to the policies and measures Pakatan is pushing for and will surely implement if given the seat of power in Putrajaya.
That DAP and PAS agreed on a wide spectrum of issues, including those pertaining to the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims and their overall acceptance of Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto Pakatan leader, speaks volumes about the new found cohesiveness of Pakatan Rakyat.
Much of the credit in cobbling together the document and coordinating efforts in getting the three parties to agree on the final draft must go to former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim, now with Keadilan.
But not all quarters are happy with the final product with several DAP leaders calling voicing some reservations over the omission of holding local council elections in the drive towards greater democracy.
But there is still plenty to be proud of, such as pledges for a Race Relations Act and the revamping of the electoral system and the corruption-ridden tender system, to name a few.
Indeed, there’s plenty of meat to give Barisan food for thought.
The government coalition will attempt to brush off the common agenda document as just opposition rhetoric but it should take heed of the price it paid for being over confident in March 2008.
In promising affirmative policies based on need rather than race, Pakatan is sending a strong message that it wants the national wealth to be enjoyed by all and not just the upper echelons of the various communities.
In setting deadlines to end highway tolls, Pakatan is signaling that it has the fiscal wisdom and experience to run the country and introduce sweeping reforms which will overhaul the way the country has been run for decades.
The common agenda document was released by the opposition coalition one day after thousands of Malaysians besieged a government open day event in Putrajaya, posing tough questions about Prime Minister Najib Razak’s rethoric in fighting corruption.
Since taking office, the Prime Minister has been credited with making the right “sound bites” but has yet to walk the talk on many things.
His government has been accused of covering up the Port Klang Free Trade Zone RM12 billion scandal and his own credibility remains tainted over allegations of kickbacks in arms deals and his relationship with murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu.
The common policy document has set the tone for Pakatan’s struggle in the coming months, as it seeks to assure the rakyat that it has put behind its internal quibbling and spats, and that it is now ready to forge ahead with a clear mission for all to follow.
FMT
19/12/09
The common policy agenda approved by Keadilan, PAS and DAP
may sound like an election manifesto – hefty oil royalties for states, including Sabah and Sarawak, scrapping of tolls for highways in seven years and 50 percent cuts in transport for the elderly, students and the handicapped are just a few of the carrots.
And with elections expected to be held by the end of next year, the document may well serve that purpose, except that it offers a broader insight to the policies and measures Pakatan is pushing for and will surely implement if given the seat of power in Putrajaya.
That DAP and PAS agreed on a wide spectrum of issues, including those pertaining to the rights of Muslims and non-Muslims and their overall acceptance of Anwar Ibrahim as the de facto Pakatan leader, speaks volumes about the new found cohesiveness of Pakatan Rakyat.
Much of the credit in cobbling together the document and coordinating efforts in getting the three parties to agree on the final draft must go to former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim, now with Keadilan.
But not all quarters are happy with the final product with several DAP leaders calling voicing some reservations over the omission of holding local council elections in the drive towards greater democracy.
But there is still plenty to be proud of, such as pledges for a Race Relations Act and the revamping of the electoral system and the corruption-ridden tender system, to name a few.
Indeed, there’s plenty of meat to give Barisan food for thought.
The government coalition will attempt to brush off the common agenda document as just opposition rhetoric but it should take heed of the price it paid for being over confident in March 2008.
In promising affirmative policies based on need rather than race, Pakatan is sending a strong message that it wants the national wealth to be enjoyed by all and not just the upper echelons of the various communities.
In setting deadlines to end highway tolls, Pakatan is signaling that it has the fiscal wisdom and experience to run the country and introduce sweeping reforms which will overhaul the way the country has been run for decades.
The common agenda document was released by the opposition coalition one day after thousands of Malaysians besieged a government open day event in Putrajaya, posing tough questions about Prime Minister Najib Razak’s rethoric in fighting corruption.
Since taking office, the Prime Minister has been credited with making the right “sound bites” but has yet to walk the talk on many things.
His government has been accused of covering up the Port Klang Free Trade Zone RM12 billion scandal and his own credibility remains tainted over allegations of kickbacks in arms deals and his relationship with murdered Mongolian model Altantuya Shariibuu.
The common policy document has set the tone for Pakatan’s struggle in the coming months, as it seeks to assure the rakyat that it has put behind its internal quibbling and spats, and that it is now ready to forge ahead with a clear mission for all to follow.
FMT
19/12/09
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