Ten things PKR wants Wan Farid to explain

By Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider

Reports that the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Kuala Terengganu by-election was promised his old position as the deputy home minister if he wins the seat have made him a target for Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

PKR's information chief Tian Chua today challenged Datuk Wan Farid Wan Salleh to explain his stand on several controversial issues on the home front.

At the top of the list, Chua wants Wan Farid to state his views on the use of the Internal Security Act (ISA) to arrest civilians and lawmakers without proving they threaten national security.

He also demanded Wan Farid give reasons against holding peaceful public rallies and the public's right to freedom of expression; and why the Malaysian newspapers must go through the hassle of renewing their printing permits every year.

The other seven demands are: to push for the set up of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to fight corruption at the highest level of the police force; to freeze the permits for foreign workers as a source of cheap labour replacing local labour until the Malaysian economy recovers from the effects of the global slowdown and to resolve the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah.

On top of that, Chua wants Wan Farid to agree with the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) front's proposal for the federal government to increase the oil royalties paid to oil-producing states to 20 per cent from its present five.

PKR Youth chief, Shamsul Iskandar, who was also at the press conference, challenged Wan Farid to a public debate on the same issue.

He told reporters the Umno candidate could also name the date, time and place to hold the debate.

Chua told reporters that the ex-deputy minister should be able to face these issues straight on if he wanted to win.

Wan Farid had resigned as the No.2 in the Home Ministry on Jan 4, three days before nomination of candidates for the by-election.