A close examination of PK's election Manifesto will reveal that 80 per
cent of its promises have already been fulfilled--by the BN Government.
The remaining 20 per cent are non--deliverables. We shall soon see why.
Let's look at PK's promises one by one.
1. To create one million jobs in the agricultural, construction and service sectors...
There are currently 1.58 million foreign workers in these sectors. If
locals are willing to take over their jobs, there will already be 1.58
million vacancies.
2. To implement a minimum wage of RM1,100 a month.The
BN Government has proposed a minimum wage of RM900 a month in
Peninsular Malaysia. Some SMEs are resisting this because they say they
will be adversely affected. If the market cannot afford RM900, can it
afford RM1,100?
3. To set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to improve the education system.The
BN Government has been regularly reviewing the education system to meet
the demands of the domestic market as well as to face the challenges of
globalisation. Remember the major study called the Razak Report? And
now, there is the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
4.
To break up the monopoly in the services sector by setting up an
Anti-Monopoly Commission and to revamp existing law in regard to
competition in order to stop unfair trade practices.These matters are already well covered in Competition Act 2012
5.
To dissolve 1MDB in order for Khazanah Nasional Bhd to remain as the
sole body in charge of overseeing the nation’s investments.This PR proposal contradicts No. 4 above.
6. To reduce the price of petrol, diesel...Over
the years, petrol and diesel prices have been revised, mostly
downwards, in line with the movement of world oil prices. More
recently, prices were slashed in 2008 and in 2012.
7. To abolish tolls eventually.Tolls
have already been abolished in some major roads in Kuala Lumpur and
elsewhere. More will be considered at the end of the concession
periods.
8. To revamp the National Automotive Policy to lessen
the people’s burden by getting rid of the excise tax and to ensure that
the lowest car price will be RM25,000.The BN Government has
already announced the gradual reduction in car duties from Japan and
Australia. This will lead to cheaper cars. But it is not realistic to
lower the price of the cheapest car to RM25,000. What is more relevant
is to view the cost of transportation, which includes also the cost of
fuel, road tax, insurance and other costs. If all these costs are taken
into consideration, Malaysia ranks as among the lowest cost of
transportation in Asean.
9. To abolish PTPTN (student loans)
with the public university fees being borne by the government and a
cost-of-living allowance will be given to each and every student.If
implemented, Malaysia will be the first country in the world to go bust
for providing tuition-fee-less education in public universities. Free
university education will also lead to a host of undesirable
socio-economic consequences.
10. To stop the implementation of the AES (Automated Enforcement System).The
AES is another initiative to ensure road safety. Abolish it and all
motorists and passengers in school buses, stage buses, taxis, motor
cycles and in private cars will continue to be held to ransom by
reckless drivers.
11. To revamp the share structure in Felda
Global Ventures (FGV) with the aim of returning the operations and
landownership of Felda lands to the Felda settlers and Felda staff.It
was the Alliance/ BN Government that started the Felda scheme and its
was the same government that has been shepherding the settlers and their
families all these years. Their interests have always been of
paramount concern, and it will continue to be so in the future.
12. To ensure a monthly household income of RM4,000 within the next five yearsThe BN Government has done better. It has achieved a RM5,000 income per household per month in March 2013
13.
To free the civil servants from being in the grip of their political
masters and provide them with a good remuneration package in order to
attract the best talent into the civil service.Civil
servants in Malaysia, like their counterparts in the rest of the world,
serve the Government of the day. The BN government has periodically
been increasing the salaries of civil servants with a view to attracting
the best talents. Salaries were further adjusted this month.
14.
To implement Bersih’s eight demands, automatic voter registration at
age 21 and to clean up the electoral roll within 100 days in power.This
is the responsibility of the Election Commission which is an
independent body, answerable only to Parliament. The Commission will
continue to serve the public, whichever government is in power. It has
already met most of Bersih's implementable demands.
15. To
free the national institutions such as the Judiciary, Attorney-General’s
Chambers, MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) and the police
force from being in the grip of politicians.Only government
agencies entrusted with oversight duties to ensure strict separation of
powers and jurisdiction can do this. These agencies will be staffed by
the same people, under BN or under any other government.
16.
To ensure that Parliament is the voice of the people to check and
balance the Executive powers. To set up Parliamentary Select Committees
for important sectors ... to increase the effectiveness and efficiency
in the implementation of programmes and projects.There are
already in place many checks and balances such as provided by the
Auditor-General and Public Accounts Committee( PAC) which perform these
tasks.
17. To abolish laws that curb media freedom.The
BN government has already amended the Printing Presses Act. There is no
such thing as complete media freedom anywhere in the world. All media
are subject to the same laws as those that apply to the ordinary
citizens, eg defamation, sedition, natural security, and official
secrets.
On the other hand, the degree of freedom enjoyed by the
social media is unprecedented. Some of them, especially those aligned to
the opposition, are often licentious.
18. To abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) within 100 days in power.Contentious
clauses in the Act have been amended, freeing students to participate
in politics. Why abolish the other provisions of the Act continue to
serve a purpose?
19. To review and revamp or abolish all laws
that are against the principles and spirit of justice and people’s
freedom within the first year in power.There are no such
laws in existence. In a democracy, all laws in the statute books are
those passed by Parliament which represents the will of the people. So,
if Parliament passes a Bill, its because it is in the interest of the
large majority of society.They all fall within the principles and
spirit of justice and people's freedoms. In fact, so was the ISA. The
ISA was meant to protect the people against the enemies of the state.
So, there was nothing wrong with the law, but there could have been
excesses. That is not the fault of the law. That was the fault of
enforcement or interpretation. Of course, these excesses should be
curtailed. But that is a moot point, since the ISA has now been
abolished.
20. To release all ISA (Internal Security Act) detainees and a public apology be tendered by the government.And
jeopardise national security, and open the door for another Lahad
Datu-type national security threat? No way! Over the years, the ISA has
kept us safe. Releasing ISA detainees is like releasing criminal and
terrorist elements into society, jeopardising public safety. This will
be an act of utter irresponsibility. It would have been reasonable
however to promise to review the cases of those currently detained under
the Ac
