UPDATE6 SHAH ALAM - Anwar Ibrahim and his Pakatan Rakyat opposition front kicked off their 4th national congress amid high hopes of being able to wrest the federal government from Prime Minister Najib Razak's BN coalition.
In the Shah Alam Convention Centre, where the PR pow-wow is being held is an air of excitement with delegates effusive in their greetings to each other. The media and members of the foreign press are also in full attendance.
Anwar, who is the Opposition Leader, PKR president Wan Azizah, PAS president Hadi Awang, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang entered the hall amid cheers, kompang (drum beats), a lion dance and shouts of Reformasi (reforms).
The highlight of the event is the PR's much-awaited manifesto for the 13th general election - expected to be the most hotly contested ballot ever. The manifesto is themed Pakatan Harapan Rakyat or the People's Hope and will centre around the PR's economic and social blueprint - the Buku Jingga or Orange Book. (scroll below for the details)
"Our strength is in our clean leadership, total rejection of a race-based politics, policies based on needs of the people. There is no need to ask, are we ready for Putrajaya. The answer is yes, we are ready for Putrajaya," said Azmin Ali in his speech.
To contest as one machinery despite separate logos
Apart from PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, PAS election director Hatta Ramli, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution and DAP disciplinary head Tan Kok Wai also gave speeches.
The convention was also told that until now, the Registrar of Societies had not responded to the PR's application to be formally registered as a coalition, which would allow the 3 parties to contest under a common banner.
Without the ROS nod, PKR, PAS and DAP candidates will have to contest GE13 under their party's respective logos.
"Not only have we not received any reply from the Registrar, they didn't even send us any acknowledgement of receipt of our application letter," said Saifuddin, drawing laughter and jeers from the audience.
Nonetheless, despite the absence of a formal umbrella, the parties have agreed to contest "as one".
"Not only do we have a common manifesto and theme, our election machinery will function as one to match the BN's," promised DAP's Kok Wai.
The People's Hope
Presenting the manifesto were PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli, PAS research head Dzulkefly Ahmad and DAP's M Kulasegaran. The People's Hope consists of 4 thrusts: The People's Well-being; The Fraternity of the People; The People's Economy; andThe People's Government.
The People's Well-Being
Lower oil prices
Lower oil price
Lower electricity charges
Lower water charges
Abolish tolls
Abolish monopolies
Lower car prices
150,000 affordable and comfortable housing
National Housing Corp: Investing RM5bil in the 1st year and RM2bil a year after to build affordable and comfortable housing
Free education for all, abolishing PTPTN
Eliminating AES, revoking AES summonses
Justice for Felda settlers
Increase police capabilities to solving crime
Free ward service to all citizens in all government hospitals for class 2 and 3 wards
Social Welfare Assistance increased to RM550 a month
The Fraternity of the People
Repect the position of Islam as the official religion and guaranteeing the freedom of religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution
Elevate culture as a positive foundation of community
Malaysian Women's Contribution Fund: contribution of RM50 per month for wives who qualify, and husbands will be obliged to provide towards a contribution fund proportionate to their income (between RM10 to RM100) per month
Senior Citizens' Bonus Scheme (60 years and above): RM1,000 Bonus each year
Uphold the national language, ensure the rights of mother-tongue languages, and improve the command of English
Additional assistance of RM300 per student each year for the 1,854 people's religious schools, national-type Chinese and Tamil schools (SJK), private Chinese, Tamil, Iban, Kadazan and mission schools
Recognize Unified Examination Certificate (Combined Chinese Schools) (UEC)
Respect the position of Sabah and Sarawak in the Federation - federal co-operation, fair representation, citizenship, recognition of customary Land Rights, competence and capability of Sabah and Sarawak, justice in the oil issue and unified development
Immediate programmes for Sabah and Sarawak - eliminate cabotage system, create investment incentives to create jobs, oil companies owned by the governments of Sabah and Sarawak, highway across Sabah and sarawak, halt the construction of dams that destroy the environment and displace locals
Preserve Orang Asli customary land rights and welfare
The People's Economy
1 million new job opportunities for the people by gradually reducing dependence on foreign labour
Minimum wage of RM1,100 per month; RM2 billion facilitation fund to facilitate minimum wage
People s Pioneer Scheme: train 1 million school leavers without higher education to uplift their skills in technical fields, combining employment opportunities with periodic certification of skills
5 technical universities and 25 new vocational schools to be built
Education reform to drive the economy
Cultivate smart partnership of trade unions, employers and government
SMIs and innovation to drive to national economy - RM500 million national innovation fund, SMI financing and incentives reshuffle
Tax adjustment to promote equity - income band will be broadened so that the 26% tax rate will be payable for taxable income exceeding RM400,000 as compared to 250,000 at present
Sustainable economy - halt Lynas operations, review implementation, phases of RAPID, reform all existing legislation related of logging, and will regulate logging activities
Defend military veterans' economy and welfare - RM500 million for military Veterans Small Entrepreneur Fund, increase government contribution to the Armed Forces Board (AFFB) from 15% to 20% (managed separately from pension funds), Soldiers' Dividend will remunerate non-pensionable veterans to the amount of RM2,000 per year
Making taxi entrepreneurs viable by giving permits directly to taxi drivers
R&D investments to reach 5% of GDP
Public transport - the lifeline of the national economy - free public transport for differently- abled people, integrated plan involving MRT and buses in the Klang Valley
RM2 billion to double the number of buses and bus routes, initiate steps towards building in the first inter-city high speed rail system in Southeast Asia
Break monopolies to encourage competition - anti Monopoly Commission,Public Contracts Commission to evaluate public agreements like IPP and unfair concessions, break up monopolies in communication, essential foods , pharmaceuticals, civil aviation and other key sectors, dissolve 1MBD, open tenders , disposal and handover of government holdings in selected government- linked companies (GLCs) via management by-out (MBO) to produce more viable entrepreneurs
MORE TO COME
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