Archive for category Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat’s policy statement on New Economic Model (Part 4a)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 21 April 2010
PART IV: PAKATAN RAKYAT’S “ACID TEST” TO BARISAN NASIONAL
Pakatan Rakyat takes a very strong view on the need to have a strong political will to carry out economic reforms promptly and extensively.
The biggest challenge for Barisan Nasional is to prove that NEM (despite all the contradictions and gaffs already committed by Barisan Nasional leaders) is genuine and not a part of the continuous public relations gimmick, presumably developed by APCO Worldwide.
Therefore, the government needs to immediately response to the lukewarm reception of the market and public by demonstrating early political will to implement certain key economic reforms; failure of which will only confirm the prevailing sentiment that NEM is nothing more than repackaged past failures presented as a public relations campaign.
Pakatan Rakyat hereby outlines four key acid tests for Barisan Nasional that could and should be implemented immediately if it is serious in pushing economic reforms.
Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat’s policy statement on New Economic Model (Part 3d)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 21 April 2010
The inherent lack of transparency
The market greeted government’s move to dispose its assets and develops some parcels of lands to spur economic activities with some excitement. One of the first projects announced was the development of government lands in Sungai Buloh for a gross development value of RM5 billion to be jointly developed by government and EPF.
Unfortunately, the positive response was short-lived as news soon circulated that MRCB was expected to be appointed as the contractor for the project; prompting allegations of insider trading.
Whatever optimism there was with regards to the planned disposal of government assets died instantaneously and marred the unveiling of NEM.
The basic issue of transparency did not receive adequate attention and priority in NEM when it is one of the biggest ills of our economy.
Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat’s policy statement on New Economic Model (Part 3c)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Removing Subsidy
The double standard on the issue of subsidy removal is glaring.
Pakatan Rakyat has maintained that the issue of subsidy removal must be approached holistically. It is morally wrong to take back assistance to the people (in the form of lower petrol prices) in the name of subsidy removal – yet the huge financial incentives and soft loans to big corporations such as Independent Power Producers (IPPs), water concessionaires and toll operators are maintained in the name of “sanctity of legal agreements”.
While the Federal Government continues to dilly dally with water restructuring in Selangor to return the utility back to the public and to ensure minimal tariff in the future; it also provided Syabas with a RM320.8 million 20-year back-loaded and interest free loan.
The issue of exorbitant profits made by IPPs is well known and has become a national topic. PETRONAS has suffered a bill of RM97 billion cumulatively up to 31 March 2009 in gas subsidies; mostly to IPPs. Despite continuous public pressure, Barisan Nasional has not had the courage nor willingness to restructure IPPs given the burden to the national coffers in terms of gas subsidy that could have been used elsewhere.
Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat’s policy statement on New Economic Model (Part 3b)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Contradictions
Having reviewed the NEM in details, what is most damaging to NEM does not even form any part of NEM or the documents published by NEAC.
In the end, the public shall judge Barisan Nasional by its actions – past and present; to determine the level of seriousness and political will. In this department, Barisan Nasional’s contradictory decisions and actions prior to and in the immediate instance of unveiling of NEM shall prove to be the most fatal blow to NEM.
Rent Seeking
YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak has openly admitted that out of RM54 billion of equity allocated to Bumiputra, only RM2 billion remains due to immediate and large sell down of Bumiputra shares in the capital market.
Embarrassingly, he went on to admit that “those who received bumiputra shares were not ordinary folk but mainly influential people ‘who sat in the front rows at functions such as Tan Sris and Datuk Sris”.
Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat’s policy statement on New Economic Model (Part 3a)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 21 April 2010
PART III: SHORTCOMINGS AND CONTRADICTIONS
Originality Is Suspect
The three main thrusts of sustainability, inclusiveness and high income bear striking resemblance to basic tenets enumerated in Pakatan Rakyat’s Malaysian Economic Agenda (MEA).
In fact, the concept of needs-based “affirmative action” (rather than the race-based approach as espoused in the New Ecomomic Policy) that is being touted as a major breakthrough for Barisan Nasional is clearly borrowed from MEA which first proposed the idea in 2006.
The extent of copycat does not stop there. NEM talks extensively about the need to abolish rent seeking culture in order to reinvigorate the economy.
In a speech to a dinner function hosted by Harvard Club of Malaysia on 5 May 2005, former Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi lamented the widespread culture of rent seeking in practice.
Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat’s policy statement on New Economic Model (Part 2)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Tuesday, 20 April 2010
PART II: ASSESSMENT OF CURRENT ECONOMIC POSITION AND CLIMATE
Right Diagnosis Vindicated Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan Rakyat feels vindicated that the diagnosis on our economic position presented by NEAC in the report corroborates directly with Pakatan Rakyat’s views.
On 25th February 2010, Leader of Opposition YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim had cautioned the Prime Minister in prematurely declaring that the “worst is over” for the economy and that Malalysia could put the impact of the global economic recession behind us.
In reality Malaysia’s performance is lagging relative to other economies in the region. YB Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the worrying decade long trend of stagnant private investment which was a direct result of an over reliance on pump priming measures. This analysis was elaborated at length in the NEAC Report published approximately a month later.
Consequently, in his speech to Dewan Rakyat on 16th March 2010, YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim again outlined five critical economic areas which require urgent remedy if the country were to escape from the middle-income trap. These are: Read the rest of this entry »
Pakatan Rakyat’s policy statement on New Economic Model (Part 1)
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Tuesday, 20 April 2010
PART I: INTRODUCTION
The question of what direction to steer the Malaysan economy to lift it from its prolonged state of lethargy and decay is one that should command the immediate attention of our government. The decisions that are taken today will have serioues ramifications for the livelihood of future generations.
An all encompassing economic framework designed to dramatically shift the trajectory of our economy should have been given the utmost priority at all level of public and government discourses.
It is therefore deeply troubling that the commendable report prepared by the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) was from its onset sullied with partisanship and politicking as the Dewan Rakyat was never consulted during its formulation nor was its content ever presented and deliberated upon even after its launch.
Read the rest of this entry »
NEM: Pakatan sets out acid tests for Barisan Nasional to prove its commitment to economic reforms
Posted by Kit in Economics, Pakatan Rakyat on Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Press Release : Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council
Pakatan Rakyat has scrutinised the 193-page report on New Economic Model for Malaysia (Part 1) prepared by National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC); released in conjunction with the launching of New Economic Model (NEM) by Prime Minister on 30th March 2010.
For a start, YAB Dato’ Seri Najib Tun 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 it’s just another public relations exercise!
Nevertheless, Pakatan Rakyat feels vindicated that our diagnosis on the problems of the economy highlighted over the past 15 years is finally conceded by the Government. The NEM admitted that our “economic engine is slowing”, “private investors have taken a back seat”, “productivity is growing… far too slowly”, “we are not developing talent and what we do have is leaving”, “the gap between rich and poor is widening” and we are “stuck in a middle income trap”.
Read the rest of this entry »
The indomitable spirit of several thousands who stood under heavy rain to hear Pakatan Rakyat leaders in Semboyan Halilintar ke Putrajaya ceramah perdana potent sign that the goal of Putrajaya is within reach
Posted by Kit in Anwar Ibrahim, Pakatan Rakyat, Post-2008 general election, Twitter on Wednesday, 10 March 2010
I thought the crowd of thousands for this Semboyan Halilintar ke Putrajaya ceramah perdana in Seremban to commemorate the second anniversary of March 8, 2008 political tsunami would dissolve away when the full blasts of the rain came, but the indomitable spirit of several thousands who stood their ground despite heavy rain is a potent sign that the Pakatan Rakyat goal of Putrajaya in the next general election is within reach.
In recent weeks, Umno/Barisan especially through their owned and controlled mainstream media (msm) had tried to paint a picture of Pakatan Rakyat in disarray if not in disintegration, focusing particularly on Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) which has been reduced to 26 from 30 MPs two years ago.
Firstly, Umno/BN tried to foment trouble in Pakatan Rakyat saying that I should be Parliamentary Opposition Leader as the DAP with 28 MPs has now more MPs than PKR. Thanks but no, as DAP has decided that Anwar Ibrahim is the Parliamentary Opposition Leader heading the Pakatan Rakyat in Parliament until he becomes the new Prime Minister when Pakatan Rakyat captures Putrajaya in the next general elections.
Secondly, the Umno/BN launched a psychological warfare against PKR and Pakatan Rakyat because of the PKR cleansing process resulting in the reduction, whether by defection or expulsion, of its parliamentary strength.
Read the rest of this entry »
Not a time to lose March 8 spirit
Posted by Kit in Kee Thuan Chye, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, Post-2008 general election on Tuesday, 9 March 2010
By Kee Thuan Chye
There was a lot of optimism right after March 8, 2008. There was a sense that things would get better. But has there been much change two years since that day?
Instead of seeing multi-racialism being freely accepted and manifested in government policies, we find ourselves becoming more divided along racial lines. Right after March 8, Umno embarked on its campaign to warn the Malays that they were under threat and to rise up against this.
The government has assumed a schizophrenic personality – the prime minister talks about 1Malaysia while his deputy says things that are completely contradictory. The PM talks about multi-racial unity while his own party campaigns for Malay unity.
Many of us had hoped that, after the elections, both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat would set aside their political differences and get down to the business of working for the national interest, of saving this country.
Instead, they have been doing their darnedest to do the dirty on each other. BN is coming out tops in that effort because it has the media under its control. Both seem to be doing their worst to win the next general election.
Read the rest of this entry »
Target of Pakatan Rakyat in Sarawak in the forthcoming state general elections must be to form the next State Government or deny BN 2/3 majority
Posted by Kit in DAP, Election, Pakatan Rakyat, Sarawak on Monday, 8 March 2010
I feel great satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment at today’s opening of the RM800,000 Kuching DAP premises as it is the culmination of the blood, sweat and tears of DAP leaders, members and supporters in Sarawak in the past 32 years since 1978 when Sarawak DAP was first formed.
We pay tribute to the Chairman of the Building Committee Sdr. Chong Siew Chiang, the founding Sarawak DAP Chairman who had planted the DAP flag in Sarawak in 1978 with a handful of Sarawakian visionaries. Another such visionary, who is with us today, is Sdr. Ling Sie Ming, the “dragon slayer” in the 1982 general elections when Sarawak DAP made the parliamentary breakthrough winning two parliamentary seats.
But the DAP struggle in Sarawak was a very arduous and testing one, as we were unable to make a breakthrough in the Sarawak state general elections for 18 years until 1996 when we first sent the Rocket to the Sarawak state assembly with the election of three Sarawak DAP State Assemblymen.
The May 2006 Sarawak state general election saw another historic breakthrough when DAP Sarawak sent six representatives to the Sarawak state assembly out of a total of nine successful Opposition candidates – a prelude to the March 8 political tsunami of the 2008 general elections in Malaysia.
Read the rest of this entry »
Kit Siang: Pakatan to win big if Anwar is jailed
Posted by Kit in Anwar Ibrahim, Pakatan Rakyat on Sunday, 7 March 2010
By Neville Spykerman | The Malaysian Insider
SHAH ALAM, March 7 — Veteran opposition leader Lim Kit Siang today predicted the Pakatan Rakyat will have an easier time at the next general election if the government jails Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for sodomy.
“If he is jailed, our motto will be free Anwar, vote PR!” said the DAP stalwart during the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Convention.
Anwar, the de factor PKR and PR leader, is facing his second sodomy charge in more than a decade after he was sacked as deputy prime minister and later jailed for sodomy and corruption offences.
The next election is not due until 2013 but pundits expect Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to call for snap polls after the Sarawak state elections, which are due by July 2011.
The Ipoh Timor MP said the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) government was courting trouble by continuing their persecution of the Opposition Leader, who has denied the sodomy charge and called it a political conspiracy.
Read the rest of this entry »
Najib cannot find real comfort in PKR’s agonizing self-cleansing process when his 1Malaysia concept and Barisan Nasional are in such tatters
Posted by Kit in Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Thursday, 4 March 2010
UMNO and Barisan Nasional leaders are fully exploiting the present turmoil in Pakatan Rakyat caused by the PKR’s agonizing self-cleansing process but the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak cannot find real comfort when his 1Malaysia slogan and concept – in less than a year – and the Barisan Nasional are in such tatters.
Only in today’s Sin Chew Daily, the Gerakan youth leader Lim Si Ping said that this is the best time for Gerakan to pull out of Barisan Nasional and that it is only by leaving Barisan that Gerakan can restore its dignity.
If Pakatan Rakyat is tottering on its last legs as pictured by the mainstream media (msm) in the past few days, such a thought would not have occurred to the Gerakan youth leader!
Nanyang Siang Pau today reported that the Prime Minister has issued an ultimatum to the three MCA warring factions to “ceasefire” within this month because of an imminent Cabinet reshuffle in April, leading to the latest speculation that the newest permutation in the “Three Kingdom” MCA battle will see a Chua-Liow vs Ong realignment.
It is not only the lesser Barisan Nasional parties who are chronically afflicted with fatal schisms like MIC and PPP, even the UMNO “Big Brother” is seriously fractured, with Najib’s authority weakening, instead of strengthening, by the day.
Read the rest of this entry »
Of crossing overs and cultural cancer
Posted by Kit in Azly Rahman, Pakatan Rakyat on Thursday, 4 March 2010
By Azly Rahman
Should I cross over for those millions of ringgits?
That is a two million ringgit question.
How much does one get for ‘crossing over’ these days? I do not know. But if there are millions of ringgit involved, this nation will continue to rot as corrupt politicians continue switching allegiances, getting appointments to good positions, and making horrifying decisions for you and your children.
We must destroy this culture and heal anew.
We were convinced things will be better after the elections. We were sure that the revolution was going to benefit the masses and no party hopping would occur.
We are wrong. Things are getting more complex, in a complex time of rising prices.
Read the rest of this entry »
Open letter to Pakatan members
Posted by Kit in Anwar Ibrahim, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Letter by Emmanuel Joseph
Dear friends,
We cannot let them win. We cannot let hopelessness and despair triumph over justice and truth. We cannot succumb to helplessness and self-pity. And most importantly, we cannot self-destruct.
It is convenient and most tempting to raise a finger and point out PKR as the weak link in the PR chain, to blame all that is happening today on Anwar Ibrahim. After all they clung on stubbornly to their allocated seats and placed postmen and washouts to contest instead of giving way to PAS’ or DAP’s more qualified, loyal candidates.
But in more ways than one, it was also PKR and its leader Anwar Ibrahim that has raised Pakatan to the level it is now. PKR helped smooth things out between conservative DAP and hardline PAS in the shaky first few weeks, and subsequently PKR played the role as a stabilising force in Pakatan, grounding the ideals of both its partners, and allowing PAS and DAP to cement their ties to the current warm levels.
Read the rest of this entry »
An open letter to defecting PKR MPs
Posted by Kit in Letters, Pakatan Rakyat on Wednesday, 3 March 2010
Open Letter By Shamsuddin Kamal
Assalamu Alaykum and peace to all,
Three PKR MPs have so far quit the party and turned independent, meaning turned BN MPs anyway, you have that right, but also the people who elected you have some rights. All of you left the party upon which you were elected and singled out one reason: no faith in leadership. Some even said they want to go back to Umno (either directly or indirectly) because of bangsa dan agama. Well, dear MPs, most Malaysians know why you are leaving and these are the reasons:
-
UMNO is behind the spate of defections to hurt Anwar Ibrahim and whoever it finds that has a weak heart, it snatches him/her away to play along.
-
UMNO wants to humiliate Anwar Ibrahim and whoever it finds has a wicked heart, it beckons him so that he/she will play along.
-
UMNO wants to salvage whatever that’s remaining of its credibility and does so by playing the racial card and it brings alone anyone who can’t see beyond its devilish tactics and so far it has gotten few.
Anwar Ibrahim will continue as Parliamentary Opposition Leader even if PKR MPs number less than DAP’s 28 MPs
Posted by Kit in Anwar Ibrahim, DAP, Pakatan Rakyat on Tuesday, 2 March 2010
A Malaysian Insider journalist has just drawn my attention to a tweet by Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday that he has no problem in my taking over from him.
I was also asked whether the DAP would rally behind Anwar.
My response was that the question of DAP rallying behind Anwar does not arise, as we are solidly in support of his leadership in Pakatan Rakyat, as Parliamentary Opposition Leader and as Prime Minister-designate in the Pakatan Rakyat plan to wrest power from Umno and Barisan Nasional in the next general elections.
As far as the DAP is concerned, Anwar continues as Parliamentary Opposition Leader even if PKR Members of Parliament number less than DAP’s 28 MPs.
All keen followers of the Malaysian political scene see what is happening in PKR as a long-needed self-cleansing process which, however painful and agonizing, is necessary to restore public confidence in the credibility and viability of PKR and Pakatan Rakyat.
As I have just commented in my tweet:
“Great diff between PR n BN – PR rubbish are BN gems”.
Of the opposition, obstacles, opportunity and oblivion!
Posted by Kit in Martin Jalleh, Pakatan Rakyat on Monday, 1 March 2010
By Martin Jalleh
The public has increasingly perceived the fledging PR to be a “fragile”, “feuding”, “fraying” and “faltering” coalition – one that was “not on a firm footing”.
Last year saw the end of the euphoria that enveloped the whole country after the political tsunami of March 2008. It was a year during which the Opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat (PR), was brought down to earth and forced to face the enormity of the challenge to deliver what it had promised during the elections.
It was also a year when the public increasingly perceived the fledging PR to be a “fragile”, “feuding”, “fraying” and “faltering” coalition — one that was “not on a firm footing”. In light of this scenario, the PR was hard pressed to convince the public that they could form the next federal government.
One would have thought that the PR, after having lost Perak to the BN in February 2009, would come to its senses about the need to be united.
But it continued with its petty and puerile public inter and intra-party squabbles, spats and skirmishes, much to the surprise and scorn of the public and the satisfaction of Umno!
Meanwhile, the great hope which the apolitical Hindraf gave to the Indians and in fact to Bolehland came to a halt.
Read the rest of this entry »
Happy Chinese New Year of the Golden Tiger – make 13th general elections the great turning point for Malaysia
Posted by Kit in nation building, Pakatan Rakyat on Saturday, 13 February 2010
I wish all Malaysians a Happy Chinese New Year.
This is the second Chinese New Year after the historic political tsunami of the March 8, 2008 general elections which witnessed a paradigm shift in Malaysian political thinking and expectations.
What were never thought of as possible in the first five decades of nationhood have become common-place and are even in danger of being taken for granted.
All eyes and thoughts are focused on the next general elections – whether the 13th general elections will complete the process prepared by the 12th general elections for Malaysia to have a new ruling coalition in the seat of federal government in Putrajaya apart from the state government level.
The next general elections, whether in 2011 or 2012, will provide answers to many intriguing questions, including:
-
Whether the most famous political prophecy, RAHMAN on the first six Prime Ministers will be fully completed with Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the last UMNO Prime Minister?
Malaysia would have been spared the religious troubles of the past month if inter-religious dialogues had been institutionalized as an important aspect of nation-building in the past five decades
Posted by Kit in nation building, Pakatan Rakyat, Religion on Thursday, 11 February 2010
The Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council decided on 31st January 2010 to convene tonight’s inter-religious dialogue because we believe that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians from all religions are men and women of good will and good sense who want religion to unite and not divide, to build and not to destroy, the nation.
During the course of the historic dialogue tonight, bringing together representatives from all the great religions in Malaysia to freely and frankly exchange views and share their common concerns for the best welfare of the country, I was struck by the thought that Malaysia would have been spared the religious troubles of the past month if inter-religious dialogues had been institutionalized as an important aspect of nation-building in the past five decades.
Bapa Malaysia and the first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, established the Inter-Religious Organisation to provide a common platform to bring representatives of all religions together to work for the common good and it is most unfortunate that Tunku’s initiative was discarded in the past few decades.
Tonight’s inter-religious dialogue is a historic one. As Dr. Herman Shastri has said, the mechanism of trust has broken down and in our challenge and task to rebuild this mechanism of trust, regular inter-religious dialogues among the different faiths in the country plays an important part.
Read the rest of this entry »
-
You are currently browsing the archives for the Pakatan Rakyat category.
