New Malaysian agenda to topple BN
(Free Malaysia Today) – 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.
