Long way to real reforms

been to be privatised to bumiputra capitalists.

Tun Dr Mahathir’ Mohamad’s privatisation drive during his first term (19812003) was a boon for private crony capital. Taxpayers were the losers since these profitable public utilities were sold for a song and we became captive to monopolies. These failed crony capitalists had to be bailed out with our money during the financial crisis of 1997/98.

The prime minister has also announced the revival of another national car, or Proton 2.0. After the fiasco of Proton 1.0 and the huge cost to taxpayers, our public transport system and consumers, it is unbelievable that such a failed enterprise could be supported by a PH leadership full of former critics of the first Proton project. Another national car project will fail with further losses to national coffers and we will have to underwrite the losses. The PH government won’t have 1MDB to blame for that any more.

Back to Mahathirist autocracy It is alarming that no Cabinet member nor “eminent person” has voiced objections to plans to privatise Khazanah and start another national car. They have to bear collective responsibility for the consequences.

The PH manifesto prohibits the PM from taking over the finance portfolio but Mahathir has taken over the choicest companies – Khazanah, PNB and Petronas under his PMO. It is the return to the old Mahathirist autocracy. Was the Cabinet consulted in the decision to start Proton 2, privatise Khazanah, Malaysia Incorporated and the revival of the failed F1 circuit?

The appointment of Mahathir and Economic Affairs Minister Azmin Ali to the board of Khazanah also goes against the promise to keep politicians out of publiclyfunded investments since it leads to poor accountability. Only by insisting on boards being made up of professionals and on rigorous parliamentary checks for bodies such as Khazanah can we ensure a high level of accountability.

We have to wait for Lim Guan Eng’s memoirs to see how he responded to Mahathir leaving him out of Khazanah. Did the PM even discuss this with him? After all, Khazanah is still under MoF Inc. If the finance minister is left out of the board, how will he be privy to what the Khazanah board is doing?

Consistency in the war on kleptocracy The government had pledged to wipe out kleptocracy. They have disappointed the people of Malaysia. The government has shown that where there is a political will, there is a way to get rid of corruption. However, by letting off Taib Mahmud, the prime minister makes his campaign against the former PM look like a personal vendetta. The prime minister has also failed to lead by example and declare his assets and those of his spouse and children.

Corporate heads in councils The constitutional status of the appointed “Council of Eminent Persons” has been called into question. It has been reported that Perak has established a State Economic Advisory Council with corporate heads as “eminent advisers”.

There is gross conflict of interest with such arrangements when these corporate leaders still have interests in the local and international corporate scene.

Delaying urgent reforms is unacceptable Using the excuse of the government debt to delay local government elections which have been suspended in our country since 1965 is not acceptable. It is a matter of abolishing a provision under the Local Government Act and reviving the Local Government Election Act to introduce local government elections. If the government is prepared to see billions going down the drain with the Proton 2.0 project, don’t tell us there is no money for local council elections.

It is absurd to tell Independent Chinese secondary school graduates that their UEC certificate can only be recognised in five years’ time. This is a serious breach of promise since more than 80% of Chinese voters voted for PH because of this promised reform.

It is alarming to hear that the government is reconsidering its pledge to abolish several contentious laws.

The death penalty is a violation of human rights and must be abolished.

Reneging on manifesto promises From the failure by the PH government to fulfil its election promises in the 100 days, it is clear that the manifesto was drafted in a slipshod manner to secure populist votes. These include the promises to abolish toll from the highways within the stipulated time promised; no firm position regarding the PTPTN loan repayments; wavering on the promise to pay a 20% instead of 5% royalty to oil producing states based on revenue from gross production; the deduction of a percentage from a husband’s EPF contributions to go into the accounts of his wife, etc. PH has so far implemented less than half of its promises. Will the PM apologise for reneging on these promises?

Real reforms Within the first year of the PH administration, Malaysians expect serious transformational reforms that will reconstitute truly democratic institutions and improve the lives of the 99% and especially the B40 Malaysians. Of the highest priority, we expect urgent initiatives to implement the eight key reforms including:

An end to race-based parties and policies especially replacing race-based policies with needs-based measures that truly benefit the lower-income and marginalised sectors and basing recruitment and promotion in the civil and armed services strictly on merit;

Re-instatement of democratic institutions including bringing back elected local councils and enacting a Freedom of Information Act;

Zero tolerance for corruption. Political leaders charged with corruption must step down while their case is pending;

A progressive economic policy that will renationalise privatised assets, especially land, water, energy, which belong to the Malaysian people instead of local and foreign capitalists, opening up GLCs to democratic control of the people and directing them to implement good labour and environmental policies;

Redistribute wealth fairly through progressive taxation on the high-income earners, their wealth and property and effective tax laws to ensure there are no tax loopholes for the super-rich;

A far-sighted and fair education policy with equal opportunities for all without any racial discrimination for enrolment into all schools and tertiary educational institutions;

Defend workers’ rights and interests especially their right to unionise and a progressive guaranteed living wage for all workers, including foreign workers;

People-centred and caring social policies including an effective low-cost public housing programme for rental or ownership throughout the country for the poor and marginalised communities;

Prioritise Orang Asal rights and livelihood by recognising their rights over the land they have been occupying for centuries, prohibiting logging in Orang Asal land and ensuring all Orang Asal villages have adequate social facilities and services;

Sustainable development and environmental protection by allowing all local people to be consulted before any development projects and all permanent forest and wildlife reserves are gazetted.

The lesson of the first 100 days of the PH administration teaches us that, as always, civil society must be ever vigilant to push for these reforms because the government of the day will drag its feet and renege on these election promises when they have the opportunity.

Kua Kia Soong is adviser to Suaram. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com