Pakatan Harapan - Restore Local Council Elections and Abolish Detention Without Trial?

Time to urge Pakatan Harapan to commit to Local Council Elections and greater democracy, and the abolition of SOSMA and Detention Without Trial laws like POCA, POTA,...restoring the right to a fair trial for all. Laws that are suppressing our freedoms (opinion, expression, peaceful assembly) should be repealed including Sedition Act,...and also this upcoming 'anti-Fake News law'...

Pakatan Harapan need to commit NOW to ensuring regular employment(security of employment until retirement age) and abolishing all forms of precarious employment including the contractor for labour system and fixed-term employment contracts. 

Restore freedom of association - where government powers to delay registration of societies and trade union, control associations functions be removed. Associations should be free to do as what members want - and government only make sure that associations do not commit any criminal acts. Now, the government can even prevent a members decision to increase fees. 

WE NEED TO ACT NOW - BECAUSE THE PAKATAN MANIFESTO IS SILENT ON THESE IMPORTANT ISSUES - meaning that things may be the same as what is happening now under UMNO-BN for such issues. YES - we need a change of government...but at the same time, we need those that seek to be the next government to give us clear commitments... 

Pakatan Harapan's manifesto - well, I have found it -  GE14 manifesto titled Buku Harapan — Membina Negara Memenuhi Harapan (Book of Hope: Building the Nation, Fulfilling Hopes)

Somehow, it is rather disappointing - A lot of words, but at the end of the day, not very clear as to what will be done. 

NO promise of Local Council Elections...So still people do not chose ...but the Government(Federal/State) continue to appoint 'cronies'..

No assurance to repeal Detention Without Trial laws (POCA, POTA and Dangerous Drugs[Special Preventive Measures Act]....This could have been done within 100 days - and all those currently detained/restricted be released. If the authorities believe that they are

No promise to get rid of laws that repress FREEDOM OF OPINION, EXPRESSION AND PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY.  

Anyway, one media report that highlights the main points was found(you can read it below)

Some COMMENTS about the PH Manifesto..

Introducing RM500 annual subsidy per low-income family at registered private clinics

- NONSENSE - registered private clinics?What the government should be doing is providing universal healthcare - that means FREE healthcare. For now, maybe the subsidies should be given to low income families in government hospitals and clinics, and maybe an assurance that there will be 24-hour government clinics/hospitals in every small town. 'PRIVATE' clinics charge a lot - why is the government helping 'private' clinics. What is this 'registered' private clinics - will some get 'registered' and some not. 

  

What you need to know about Pakatan’s GE14 manifesto

Saturday March 10, 2018
10:17 AM GMT+8

Pakatan Harapan party members are seen at the launch of the 'Buku Harapan' manifesto in Shah Alam March 8, 2018. — Pictures by Yusof Mat Isa 

KUALA LUMPUR, March 10 — Pakatan Harapan (PH) released its manifesto on Thursday, well ahead of any announcement on the 14th general elections (GE14).

The Opposition pact’s pledges however have since been criticised by both ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) and Islamist party PAS, who accused PH of lifting some parts of its manifesto from their own.

In short, PH said it would take less from Malaysians by introducing tax cuts and lowering living costs, but at the same time give them more with greater financial aid and higher spending on facilities and infrastructure. It will also seek to boost the economy and trim leakages.

Here are some quick highlights by Malay Mail from the 203-page GE14 manifesto titled Buku Harapan — Membina Negara Memenuhi Harapan (Book of Hope: Building the Nation, Fulfilling Hopes) by PKR, DAP, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, and Parti Amanah Negara:

Pakatan Harapan leaders pose for photos while holding banners with manifesto pledges after the launch of Buku Harapan in Shah Alam March 8, 2018.

1. Quick-fire ‘10 promises in 100 days’

PH gave itself a bold timeframe of just over three months to do 10 things if if it takes over Putrajaya:

I. Abolishing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which was introduced at six per cent in April 1, 2015 — with a plan to replace it with a “fairer” Sales and Services Tax and “people-friendly and entrepreneur-friendly” tax.

ii. Reintroducing petrol subsidy which was scrapped from December 1, 2014, but targeting only eligible groups with motorcycles below 125cc and vehicles below 1,300 cc.

iii. Introducing Employees Provident Fund savings for housewives — with 2 per cent contribution by working husband, and RM50 monthly by the government.

iv. Abolishing the debts of Felda settlers.

v. Allowing federal study loan PTPTN’s borrowers to delay repayment until they earn RM4,000 monthly, and no more blacklisting of defaulters.

vi. Equalising and increasing monthly minimum wages to RM1,500 by the first term and reviewable every two years, with government to contribute half of the pay hike. The current minimum wage for the private sector are RM1,000 in Peninsular Malaysia, and RM920 in East Malaysia.

vii. Introducing RM500 annual subsidy per low-income family at registered private clinics

viii. Special Cabinet committee to review the Malaysia Agreement 1963. with a report within six months.

ix. Launching royal commissions of inquiry to probe 1Malaysia Development Bhd, Felda, MARA, Tabung Haji, and revamping their leadership.

x. Launching detailed studies of mega projects awarded to foreign countries.

Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaks during the launch of Buku Harapan in Shah Alam March 8, 2018.  

2. 60 more promises in five years

The previous 10 promises overlap with PH’s 60 pledges that are spread out over five core sections:

i. Easing the people’s burden

ii. Reforming political and administrative institutions

iii. Boosting fair and just economic growth

iv. Restoring Sabah’s and Sarawak’s status based on Malaysia Agreement 1963

v. Building a nation that is inclusive, moderate and excellent at the global stage.

Some of the pledges are made with a longer-term view and expectation of PH being in power for two terms:

Among the more popular pledges were:

i. Abolishing highway tolls gradually, while introducing RM100 public transport pass in major cities and cutting excise duties on imported cars below 1,600 cc for first-time buyers.

ii. Providing one million affordable houses in 10 years.

iii. Making Internet connection speeds two times faster at half the price

iv. Keeping the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), but with a new special agency to take over the scheme and introduce a non-partisan cash transfer system

v. Voting age to be lowered from 21 to 18, and automatic voter registration to be introduced.

vi. Limiting the post of prime minister, chief minister, and mentri besar to two terms. Enforcing that the prime minister cannot hold the finance minister portfolio, and to trim the Prime Minister’s Department from 10 to three ministers. Budget for the department to be trimmed from RM17 billion to RM8 billion.

vii. Half of government’s development budget in first three years will be for Malaysia’s five poorest states: Sabah, Sarawak, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis.

viii. Get two national parks recognised as Unesco World Heritage Sites, and working towards Malaysia making it into top 10 least corrupt countries in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index by 2030.

ix. Making national schools the school of choice, and encouraging academic freedom and university autonomy.

x. Abolishing Biro Tata Negara and National Service training programmes; Bernas’ monopoly on rice; mandatory death sentence; laws such Sedition Act, National Security Council Act, and the Universities and University Colleges Act.

Pakatan Harapan leaders are pictured at the launch of the 'Buku Harapan' manifesto in Shah Alam March 8, 2018.  
3. Attention for the ‘special five’

PH gave special focus to five groups, including those particularly vulnerable or those who could contribute crucial votes: Felda settlers, the ethnic Indian community, women, youths, and the elderly.

Among other things:

i. Felda settlers were promised that abuses in the agency would be stopped with mishandled assets to be recovered, and its management to be revamped.

ii. The ethnic Indians were given the ambitious promise that the community’s problem of stateless Indians or Malaysia-born Indians without citizenship would be settled in 100 days.

iii. Women were told that they will get 90 days of maternity leave; and law changes that deter teen marriages, sexual harassments, and ensure gender equality.

iv. Youths were promised a RM500 incentive for each couple marrying for the first time below the age of 35; and free broadcast of English Premier League football matches over state broadcaster RTM.

v. The elderly will get laws against age discrimination at the workplace; and RM150 incentive each for everyone aged above 60.

BN, the ruling coalition that is also PH’s main political rival, has yet to unveil its election manifesto.- Malay Mail, 10/3/2018