10 questions for the government

We place our hopes on BN to lead the nation and its citizens to prosperity and progress.

COMMENT

The purpose of this write-up is none other than to remind the BN government on the promises and statements that they have made prior to May 5, 2013 to improve the lives of all Malaysian citizens.

Listed below are questions, suggestions and plain instructions for the government to act on.

The first question concerns the scholarship awarded to the 1,500 bright Indian students to further their studies. This issue was raised in an article on MIC by this columnist which was published on June 19, 2013 by this news portal and is now repeated here with the purpose of urging the government to act swiftly in furnishing the relevant information and that is the names and identity card numbers of the scholarship recipients.

This information should be published in all the mainstream newspapers because this scholarship move is a good idea from the government and for the sake of transparency and accountability, we want to know the names of the nation’s bright sparks.

The second question pertains to the citizenship for the Indians with the red MyKad/permanent residence status. We want to know how many of them have obtained their blue MyKad since May 5, 2013. 10? 20? 30? Or many more than that?

For a start, let us know the names and identity card numbers of those early recipients. The word ‘early’ is used as they are the first batch to have received their citizenship immediately after the 13th general election.

The third question concerns the price of cars. When will the price be reduced? We look forward to an announcement very soon for the price to be reduced by end of this year. The government must remember that the reduction of car prices was a promise made before the 13th general election although they had earlier pooh-poohed Pakatan Rakyat’s idea of the same as being not feasible.

We the rakyat will still stubbornly look forward to the reduction and by this we mean a good reduction of at least RM6,000 for the cheaper models and much more for the imported vehicles. The government must not forget their own slogan of ‘Janji Ditepati’ (Promises Fulfilled).

The fourth issue is in regard to the GST (Goods & Services Tax). For now it will not be implemented but we want to know when it will be imposed. The government must come clean on this issue instead of being vague, ambiguous and evasive.

The topic of crime is the fifth question. Can the government please take concrete measures to reduce crime? There is a petition going on to collect signatures for an auxiliary police force to be set up in the Klang Valley. We really need an auxiliary police force to assist in reducing crime.

Restaurants hiring guards is already an indication that the crime rate is at a very scary level. Alarm bells are ringing loudly warning us to act now before the situation deteriorates any further.

Our hopes on BN

The sixth issue concerns the indelible ink. Let us have a better indelible ink this time around in view of the upcoming by-election in Kuala Besut, Terengganu on July 24. We must hold the Election Commission (EC) to this promise made recently by the EC Chairman, Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof himself who has promised us a better indelible ink.

The seventh question is directed at Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak himself who has mooted the idea of a National Reconciliation Plan. It is a laudable idea and the first thing to do is of course to set up a committee to draw up the framework but when will this committee be set up?

This committee can either consists of MPs from both sides of the political divide or not have any politicians at all but only esteemed and honourable members of the public. Let us hope that a committee will be set up before October this year.

The eighth issue concerns the minimum wage policy. This has been deferred again and again and the poor workers must be tired of waiting. It must therefore be implemented without fail on Jan 1 next year. Period.

The ninth issue concerns public transport. The government must act to improve its frequency and connectivity.

The tenth issue is on improving the standard of education. The government must come up with proposals and put their ideas forward to the citizens via forums and discussions to fine-tune these proposals.

Other general matters like reducing the intake of unskilled foreign labour, reducing human trafficking and vice/gambling activities should also be looked into seriously. Reducing the price of houses, making healthcare affordable to the poor and the low-income group and improving the lives of citizens in general must be acted upon on an urgent basis by the ministries concerned.

BN is the government. PM Najib has always harped on the benefits of continuity. Therefore the BN government must continue to improve the lives of all Malaysians.

We look forward to this and place our hopes on BN to lead the nation and its citizens to prosperity and progress. After all, this is incumbent upon the incumbent government.

Selena Tay is a DAP member and a FMT columnist.