Malaysiakini.com
Terence Netto
Sep 4, 07 7:17pm
An introduction of meritocracy in education, a dose of aid in housing, and the dispersal of industry from high-density urban centers to low concentration ones, were the highlights of PKR’s economic agenda announced today.
“This is the ‘new deal’ that we will take to the voters in the coming general elections,” said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in comments made to malaysiakini following the unveiling of the party’s economic agenda called ‘The Malaysian Economic Agenda: Creating A New Deal.’
Details of the agenda were announced at a press conference today in Parliament House, jointly addressed by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and head of the party’s economic brain trust, Khalid Ibrahim.
“Overall, the thrust of the agenda would see a more equitable distribution of the wealth of the nation,” claimed Anwar.
“Thus far the distribution of the nation’s wealth has been lopsided with undue concentration in the hands of the top 20 percent of the people. This is a recipe for economic oligarchies to spawn and for social discontent to spread among the have-nots,” he contended.
Anwar explained that the party’s programme would see fairer apportionment of wealth with the top 20 percent of the population controlling 35 percent of wealth (as compared to the present 51.3 percent), the middle class of 40 percent holding a 40 percent equity (as compared to the present 35.2 percent), and the bottom 40 percent sharing 25 percent (as compared to the present 13.5 percent).
Education
Clearly, PKR’s de facto leader posits education – “the great leveller” – as the catalyst of economic retribution and upward social mobility.
Under a PKR government, selection to 30 percent of university places will be based on merit regardless of candidates’ household income. Also, a similar percentage of jobs in higher education will be awarded on merit.
“Education is the race between civilisation and catastrophe,” opined Anwar.”We have to plumb for meritocracy at this stage of our national development or risk seeing our country slide in economic competitiveness.”
He added: “At least for close to a third of the places in seats and in jobs in higher education we have to go for meritocracy as otherwise we will become mediocre and lose out in the race to build a modern, civil society that is equipped to compete in the global village.”
Anwar said the remaining 70 percent of seats in higher education would be awarded with affirmative action considerations in mind, with priority going to the poor provided they meet the minimum qualifications.
He said the education system would be the conduit for the strengthening of the concepts of parliamentary democracy, with the executive, legislature, judiciary and press existing in creative and critical interaction among them.
“Educational opportunity, entrepreneurial ingenuity, wealth distribution and social mobility are all facilitated better under a system of governance that is transparent and accountable with the traditional checks and balances provided by the third and fourth estates (judiciary and press),” he asserted.
Then in tones redolent of his decades’ long search for a synthesis of the best that has been said and thought in the world of ideas, Anwar launched into a sonorous peroration:
“Democratic pluralism is not something that we will merely give lip service to but will practise in earnestness because it is the lifeblood of the system of parliamentary democracy. I’m Malay and Muslim but neither a smug ethnocentricism nor a narrow conception of Islamic rectitude will do justice to my human identity as a Malaysian, as an Asian, and as a denizen of the global village.
“The dogmas of our racially stratified past are inadequate to our globalised present. Since our challenges are complex, we must think afresh and act anew. We must first disenthrall ourselves.”
Housing
Anwar said his party will not spawn neither will it coddle mediocrity.
“We will help people help themselves so that citizens would feel encouraged to give of their best in reasonable expectation of rewards for their labour. We will encourage the talented to flower for civil society needs multifarious talents to fructify to endure.”
Clearly, housing for the underprivileged will be a priority because “shelter is a need which if not catered for would spawn a host of social ills from dysfunctional families to substance abuse.”
Under a PKR government, a long-term inter-generational funding scheme spanning a 60-year borrowing and payback period will enable low-income earners to own a house that they might not have been able to afford otherwise.
As an alternative, low-income earners will be able to buy back basic housing units that can be sold back once they are ready to move up and acquire a better-quality house.
Complementing the drive for affordable housing, Anwar said a PKR government would cap development in high-density urban centers and provide incentives to entrepreneurs to invest in new townships to halt the rural-urban drift.
Healthcare
He said access to quality healthcare must be assured for the lower income group and viewed the shifting of that burden to the private sector as a measure that would raise costs and limit access only to those who could afford it.
“The provision of quality healthcare must not be allocated to the market only to accomplish. Government has an equitable role to play in its provision and must not shirk it,” said Anwar.
Finally, Anwar addressed the question of a ‘new deal’ for the Malays who he said had benefitted from the New Economic Policy (NEP) but were now in danger of witnessing the opening up of a wide gap between a politically connected elite and the ordinary rakyat.
“We need a new needs-based NEP that will enable ordinary Malays to repossess opportunities and engage their energies and talents to acquire their share of the national wealth.
“We must free ourselves from the fallacious emotional baggage that the NEP, in the way that it has been implemented in recent times, is an avenue for Malay advancement. That is not true. The elites have railroaded the NEP for their own selfish gain while the vast majority is doled out the crumbs.
“This is a bogus NEP. PKR’s new deal for the Malays would see the NEP impact on the Malay poor in such a way that it will empower and equip them with the means to use their rights for their genuine and lasting betterment.”
Anwar also said the bumiputeras of Sabah and Sarawak would be given the full panoply of their rights without reservation of religion or ethnicity.
“Too often they have suffered from the tyranny of geography where their distant habitations from urban centers of development meant that they languished in neglect. PKR have heard their cry of neglect and will respond to help them.”
In summation Anwar said PKR’s new deal for Malaysians would unite the country and liberate its citizens by promoting “equity over privilege, talent over mediocrity, entrepreneurial energy over rent seeking, and genuine care for the needy over empty rhetorical pledges of aid.”
DSAI tidak mahu mengadap Dr. Mahathir??
Sekadar bertanya, DSAI tidak mahu mengadap Dr. Mahathir? Sekiranya sdr boleh berlapang dada dan menziarahi dgn penuh ikhlas maka ini satu kemenangan politik buat sdr.
Apa salahnya berbuat demikian, sdr kan pemimpin berjiwa rakyat. Silakan… pergilah ngadap dia, kesiaaaaan dia..!!
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salam dsai, saya sudah membaca AEN yg DSAI tuliskan. walaupun saya tidak begitu tahu tentang selok belok ekonomi, tapi sy rasa semuanya itu adalah ditunggu2 oleh rakyat Malaysia JIKA MEREKA MEMAHAMI DAN MENGETAHUINYA. Oleh itu saya cadangkan agar AEN itu diedarkan dalam bentuk handbill or pamplete agar mudah dicerna dan difahami oleh rakyat terutamanya dikampung. mula dari sekarang, saya rasa tulisan DSAI terlalu panjang utk rakyat di kampung membacanya, lebih2 lg sikap kebanyakan org di kg yg kurang minat membaca. edarkan dari bahagian ke bahagian, pd setiap ceramah, buat roadshow utk AEN. kita perlu meyakinkan semua rakyat Malaysia, InsyaAllah moga Allah buka pintu hati kita semua utk memahaminya.
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The New Deal “FORGIVE WITHOUT CONDITIONS, BUT DON’T DO IT AGAIN!”
“Putra AMNO” supports my earlier proposal for DSAI to forgive Tun Dr Mahathir past mistakes or doings.
Even UMNO members do not forgive him for his blatant attacks towards Pak Lah’s administration. For DSAI to do so, it WILL TURN HEADS of many Malaysians especially UMNO members themselves. Most Malaysians have had enough of Pak Lah and his Son In Law.
It is a strategic move, but in everyone’s hearts, it is an important move to raise DSAI to the the pinnacle of leadership. Sifat Allah and Rasullullah S.A.W. is the best sifat to adhere. Forgiveness without conditions, from DSAI’s full heart, will invite respect and true leadership status amongst Malaysians and non-Malaysians from all walks of life.
But, don’t do the past mistakes and doings again. Whether it is Tun Dr Mahathir, DSAI or anyone who may helm Malaysian leadership in the future. Make it a law for future generations not to allow abuse of power for financial gains and abuse of power to place someone like DSAI in prison.
There must also be check and balance in Malaysian power and supreme commander. Most importantly to protect the people’s power.
Education is the root for all that rise or for all that rot. This is extremely very important. A revamp of our education system is essential to meet the demands of global economic competiveness and to curb the social ills.
So far, I m yet to hear our Parliament to discuss our education system at its roots. Where are the suggestion and action to change our syllabus? Where are the suggestions to introduce global markets, it pros and cons, to our primary and secondary schools? Our history books are still those written by the British. I have never read school history books where the first person to circle the globe was a Malaysian.
Computers, its pros and cons are still discussed on the surface. English and all other applicable business languages are still seen as alien to many. We don’t have to go far. Our grasp of most ASEAN language is still low to zero. Language is also not emphasized much in school.
I have introduced 3Ls in some NGOs related to the United Nations in Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. All agreed that the concept is universal and can be adopted in schools. Our syllabus should concentrate to educate school children the importance of Language, Logic & Love.
It is not difficult if Malaysians are serious to change!
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DS,
Cadangan Putra Amno elok juga di petimbangkan,dan pertimbangkan juga utk membatalkan saman terhadap Mahathir dlm saat begini.DS saya kira tidak terlalu terdesak utk membuktikan kebenaran DS,kerana rakyat sudah pun menghakiminya.Lagi pun segala kezaliman dan fitnah yg berlaku terhadap DS,DS lebih berhak menerima ganjaran yg lebih besar dari Allah,bukan oleh penghakiman yg sudah pun kita ragui.
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Sebenarnya lebih afdhal Anwar ziarah orang-orang miskin yg sakit kat hospital seluruh Malaysia terlebih dahulu.
Mereka dah susah dan tiada siapa nak ziarah mereka……sekurang-kurangnya Anwar boleh beri semangat dan doa restu untuk segera sembuh.
Ramai rakan-rakan yg pernah dirotan, semburan gas dan ditendang zaman awal Reformasi (Zaman MahaFiraun) diantaranya uzur dan perlu diziarahi….
Bab Tun Madir…..Insyaalah….Anwar nak ziarah tak ada masalah….Tapi minta izin doktor dulu, bimbang degupan jantung Tun Madir tambah laju….dan dituduh pula Anwar penyebab Tun Madir kena serangan jantung lagi…
Apa-apa pun majoriti Doktor kat IJN sahabat Anwar Ibrahim. Mungkin Anwar dah dapat nasihat dari doktor berkenaan bila waktu perlu diziarahi.
Apapun wakil-wakil NGO pergi dulu seperti Ezam Md Noor pun ok….!
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Dato seri ,
This masterpiece of you and Tan Sri Khalid needs to be endorsed by all opposition parties!! You mentioned about forming A PKR government but if PKR is only contesting 40 over seats or so in the coming election, this is impossible. In another word, only an opposition alliance will be able to implement the new economic agenda!! DAP and Pas leaders need to be actively promoting this new economic, housing and health reform to their supporters.
Malaysia is a rich country blessed with natural resources such as petroleum, rubber etc… and indeed sad to see only the politically well connected and their immediate family members reaping full benefit out of it in the name of NEP. Imagine how well developed Malaysia would have become if those funds have been fairly and equally distributed to each and every deserving rakyat!
I read the malay and English version but found that you haven’t uploaded the mandarin version , so please do so asap ! Distribute this good news to everyone and make sure those in kampongs are not left out. Explain what that economic pie chart diagram (it has a real visual effect) is all about and why that has happened.
Btw, I agree with sdr Putra AMNO that you should pay Tun a visit when he has regained consciousness at IJN in the capacity as an opposition leader, afterall that’s what membela nasib semua rakyat Malaysia is all about !!
Good luck and looking forward to hearing more announcements…
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tp kalau saya pegi… mau jer saya picit hidung mahathir tu…. (zalim kan??) siapa lebih zalim??? hehehheheeh
tp DSAI teruskan..biar kami saja yg layan dr mahathir tu…. standard DSAI jauh lebih tinggi dari dia
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Elok rasanya Anwar Ibrahim pergi bersama Dr Harun Din melawat Tun. Mungkin elok Dr Harun Din bawa sekali air yg telah siap didoakan.
Tapi bolehkan Tun minum air itu. Tun pernah menuduh Dr Harun Din pasai air jampi itu…
Tapi Dr Harun Din….kalau tak silap (maafkan saya kalau tak betui).. tak akan memaafkan orang yg menuduhnya…
Camno pun kena tanya Doktor jugak. La ni hanya kaum terdekat yg boleh melawat.
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Terkini…berita dari KLPOS..
Pak Lah tidak dibenar jumpa Dr Mahathir di IJN
Wednesday, 05 September 2007
PERDANA Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan isteri Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah berada di Institut Jantung Negara hari ini untuk melawat Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang baru sedar daripada menjalani pembedahan pintasan jantung semalam.
Mereka bagaimanapun tidak dapat berjumpa dengan bekas perdana menteri itu memandangkan beliau masih berada di Unit Rawatan Rapi (ICU) dan hanya anggota keluarga terdekat dibenarkan memasuki wad itu, menurut anak Dr Mahathir, Datuk Mokhzani.
p.s…
Pak Lah pun kena main….
http://klpos.com/klpos/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1030&Itemid=1
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Ada segelintir masyarakat termasuklah wartawan dan ahli-ahli politik
pembangkang sedang giat berusaha untuk mempengaruhi minda anda dgn
mengatakan bahawa perjuangan komunis ini adalah perjuangan
kemerdekaan..Dan lantas menaikkan nama-nama spt Shamsiah Faqeh, Chin
Peng, Rashid Mydin dll. INGAT!!!! Walaupun mereka (pengganas komunis)
sekarang nampak macam baik tetapi mereka telah mendatangkan
kesengseraan yang teramat sangat kpd rakyat negara ini..Ribuan orang
telah terbunuh, hilang ahli keluarga, menjadi cacat, yatim piatu dll.
Dosa mereka tidak boleh dimaafkan kerana orang-orang yg teraniaya dgn
kekejaman mereka telahpun mati tanpa sempat memaafkan mereka.
Taubat mereka sepatutnya pada masa mereka sedang kuat
bukannya pada masa sekarang apabila mereka telah tua, lemah, hidup
melarat dan tiada bantuan lagi daripada China dan Russia.
Komunis golongan tidak mempercayai Tuhan dan sah dan nyata kekufuran
mereka itu.
Kalaulah kita mengiktiraf perjuangan komunis, maka apakah perjuangan
prajurit2 kita? Jgnlah perjuangan suci anak bangsa kita yang gugur
syahid itu disalahertikan sebagai perjuangan membela penjajah pula.
Peristiwa Bukit Kepong?
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Datuk Seri,
Saya setuju dengan saranan Putra Amno, dan mohon Dato Seri dapat melawat TDM bila masa sesuai, saya percaya Datuk Seri telah maafkan TDM lupakan apa yang telah berlalu dan biarlah ia menjadi catatan sejarah politik Malaysia.
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Saya tak setuju pandangan sdr. sam…. Memang Dato’ Seri telah memaafkan sebaik keluar dari penjara tapi MahaFiraun tak makan saman….masih ditakuk lama lagi….
Kalau kena sdr dan keluarga sendiri…..adakah sdr dan anak isteri sdr nak maafkan????? Sampaikan sekarang segala video dan gerak saraf bukit Aman masih berleluasa diedarkan….
Ramai rakan-rakan tak sedia nak maafkan…..kerana beliau tak mau berubah. Apa salahnya ikut mcm Rahim Noor sedia mohon maaf dan Dato’ Seri pun maafkan. Saya tak faham sonang-sonang kamu nak maafkan Mahafiraun tu…
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Sdr UMNOINSAF,
Saya memahami kemelut dan gelodak jiwa serta perasaan sdr. Dalam perkara ini seandainya DSAI pergi mengunjungi Mahathir akan tercetus 2 kemungkinan
1) Mahathir tersentak dgn keluhuran dan kesucian hati Anwar Ibrahim dan mungkin merangkul Anwar dengan penuh semangat persahabatan dan ukhwah persaudaraan sambil menyesali tindakan lampau.
2) Mahathir enggan menerima kunjungan Anwar maka pencacai beliau akan memainkan irama “Mahathir tak mahu terima Anwar”
Namun sdr umnoinsaf, kita pedulikan apa yg bakal dikatakan oleh pencacai mahathir itu, kita cuma mahu memastikan bahawa rakyat boleh menilai sendiri siapa yg busuk hati sebenarnya.
Walaupun secara peribadi saya tidak suka dgn mahathir tetapi kita harus beri sokongan buat DSAI. Dia adalah pemimpin ulung, tarafnya jauh lebih tinggi dari mahathir…. mahathir tu..taraf sdr umnoinsaf pun belum tentu boleh makan lagi.
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gggggggg,
saya salahkan peminpin umno kerana hari ini bekas komunis di beri tanah percuma di selatan thai hidup bahagia sekampung dapat tanah percuma, tetapi bekas tentera apa dapat dah pencen nak bawa texsi pun kena sewa dengan syarikat kalau mereka tahu nasib mereka begitu dah tentu mereka masuk komunis dah damai komunis mewah hari ini kalau bekas tentera dapat tanah felda pun kena hutang sepanjang hayat kita kena salahkan tan seri rahim nor kerana keputusan berat sebelah tetapi dia setuju juga kesian bekas tentera hidup tak ketentuan. harap gggggggg buka minda seluas luasnya.
jika dikaji semula komunis cuma perjuangkan idologi mereka pada masa itu kini zaman telah berubah adakah kita masih pendendem atau bersifat terbuka hidup jangan jadi pendemdam hati kena sentiasa bersih jiwa kena tulus kita kena tunjukan kepada mereka bahawa kita tidak sezalim serpeti mereka biar mereka sedar siapa kita sebenar jika kita keras itu menujukan kita juga mewarisi idologi mereka, hidup kena macam main layang layang ada masa ditarik dan ada masa dilepaskan. jika tidak tali putus layang layang hilang. pada saya jika mereka nak balik balik lah ini tanah kelahiran mereka tanah tumpah darah mereka salah kah mereka nak lawat saudara mereka dan melawat kubur ibu bapa mereka kita kena ada perasaan hidup kita kena ada sifat kemaknusianan yang tinggi. pada saya komunis juga sebahagian perjuang kermerdekaan mereka juga penentang penjajah cuma idologi sahaja berbeza kini komunis sudah terkubur sebab itu kita tak boleh dabik dada jika sudah sampai masa terkubur itu satu hakikat begitu juga umno jika sudah sampai terkubur tiada siapa dapat menahannya ini lumrah dunia tiada yang kekal ingat jajji allah ajal jika dah sampai tiada siapa dapat menahannya. wassalam.
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