Oppostion coalition must be sincere

It is timely for DAP and PAS to seriously consider adopting the Malaysian Economic Agenda(MEA) mooted by PKR.Anwar is right,there should only be one group that should be the target of MEA - the poor among all races.Poverty transcend racial and religious lines and it must be also tackled likewise.

It may take time and face fierce opposition from those who abuse the NEP for own gains.But if there is sincerity on the part of the government these obstacles can be overcome in the near future.

The government of PKR,DAP and PAS must be sincere in wanting to rise above race and religion in their struggle to eradicate poverty.It they can convince the people of their sincerity to help all,then the path to implement the MEA should be smooth and hassle -free.

Dr.Chris Anthony




PKR: No to NEP, Yes to MEA

Malaysiakini ,Mar 15, 08 8:12pm

PKR today reiterated that it wants to scrap the New Economic Policy (NEP) which the party views as a policy designed to enrich Umno and its affiliates instead of eradicating poverty.
PKR deputy-president Dr Syed Husin Ali said the party intends to replace NEP with a new policy dubbed the Malaysian Economic Agenda mooted by party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"(NEP) has been abused by a handful of leaders and cronies in Umno and Barisan Nasional to rob the country of its wealth to enrich themselves in the name of Malays as a whole.

"It has led to discriminatory practices that are against the spirit of justice and fairness for all Malaysians, particularly the poor, marginalised and disadvantaged groups of all races," said Syed Husin in a statement today.

Syed Husin said Anwar had already outlined the MEA clearly in his many articles, public lectures as well as the party’s election statement.

Anwar has been drawing flak from Umno over Malay rights ever since opposition parties PAS, PKR and DAP made heavy inroads in peninsula Malaysia resulting in BN losing control of four states and failing to wrest Kelantan.

He has also been the target of criticism over new Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s claim that Penang would be free of NEP practices.

Combat corruption, cronyism

Syed Husin said Umno and BN now use the state-controlled media to accuse PKR of having no stand on the NEP and ways of reducing poverty among the Malays.

"We wish to emphasise that a policy of positive discrimination in favour of all Malaysians who are poor, marginalised and disadvantaged will benefit the Malay rakyat more, because they are the majority of poor people," he added.

To do this, Syed Husin stressed that the MEA aspires to:

1) Institute and implement fair, just and equitable redistribution of wealth
2) Combat corruption, cronyism and nepotism
3) Needs-based positive discrimination towards the poor
4) Channel national wealth into better education, healthcare and housing
5) Improving economic competitiveness