‘National reconciliation plan needed now’
PKR says the public should not have to wait several months before the government proposes solutions to the rising cost of living as well as current racial and religious tension.
(FMT) – The government must tackle issues of rising cost of living and racial and religious tension “immediately”, rather than wait until the unveiling of the National Reconciliation Plan (NRP) several months later, said PKR today.
“They must prove they are serious (about national reconciliation) through confidence-building measures for the rakyat. Issues such as cost of living, racism and religious tension need immediate action,” PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution told a press conference here.
“This will act as a litmus test as to the prime minister’s sincerity in reconciling the nation. We can’t wait another three months, until the NRP is unveiled, to tackle these issues.”
Saifuddin said the NRP should also focus on economy, good governance, freedom and democracy.
“But the rest can wait until the next few months. Right now we welcome the NRP, but we need a solution to the people’s anxiety and turmoil straight away.
“After the prime minister proves he is serious about this, we can move towards long term solutions for issues such as freedom of the media, democracy and subsidies,” added Saifuddin.
Yesterday, Najib on his website stated that the NRP would be unveiled and implemented over the next few months.
“The NRP will aim to encourage an environment that is conducive and promotes national reconciliation through unity and consensus across the country,” the prime minister wrote.
He also reminded the public that he was the first to call for national reconciliation while “others were only concerned with questioning the legitimacy of the elections.”
