Focus on people’s needs, Anwar tells govt

PETALING JAYA: The Pakatan Harapan government should focus and unite on important issues linked to the rakyat’s needs, says PKR president Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In his new year’s wish, Anwar said 2019 will bring a multitude of challenges – geopolitical upheaval, instability in the global economy, and continued attempts by vested interests to spark community unrest, to name a few.

“We must not rest on our laurels; in fact, we must be even more alert as to the forces that would hijack the agenda for reform that the rakyat has voted for.

“Change is always difficult, but we have tougher tasks ahead of us,” he said in a statement.

Anwar said there was also anxiety among those at the lower rung of the economic ladder such as fishermen, rubber tappers and labourers who are struggling to make ends meet.

“This is why I voiced out the need to maintain specific subsidies during the Budget 2019 debate; and this is why I will continue to focus on ways to ensure that they do not get left behind.

“I recently conducted a survey among 3,000 students who attended a town hall session. A recurrent theme was anxiety regarding low wages and employment opportunities.

“These are issues that mirror the concerns of youths across the country.”

He also spoke of the risk of Malaysia being left behind if it did not embrace the digital revolution.

“We live in an era where we are unable to escape global trends,” he said.

The Port Dickson MP said he was looking into policies in the digital sphere that could help uplift the livelihood of his constituents in Port Dickson.

These would be practical initiatives that would ensure Malaysia remain relevant in the global economic arena, he said.

“As we reflect on the events of 2018 and take heed of the coming year, it is important not to lose focus on the things that matter.”