General Elections 2022: Pakatan’s Action Plan – Positive & Direct Part 2

This will be the concluding post on Pakatan Harapan’s list of the action plans that Pakatan promises to make once Pakatan takes over the rein of the Federal Government. Please run through Part 1 of Pakatan Harapan’s list of action plans. Image source: Kita Boleh.

Objective & Aspiration

Just to recap the objectives and the aspiration of Pakatan’s action plans for the upcoming GE15.

Pakatan Harapan’s Action Plan outlines the core objectives that they intend to deliver once they are voted to be the Government and targets to achieve the following goals:

• Safeguard the welfare of the people by generating balanced and sustainable economic growth to protect the people’s holistic well-being.
• Govern with integrity by restoring confidence and fostering trust between the people and the government.
• Prepare the nation to face the future by empowering the people in facing whatever challenges will arise in the future such as climate change, racial unity, education reform, and so on.

The core objective of Pakatan Harapan’s Action Plan covers the following areas of society and how each challenge within each area will be addressed through specific action plans:-

• Managing Cost of Living
• Combating Corruption and Strengthening Democracy
• Empowering Youth’s Economic Opportunities and Exploring Humanity Sectors (Green, Agro, Creative, TVET – skill-based jobs)
• Saving the Lost Generation in Education
• Building Disaster Mitigation Measures and Enhancing Protection for the Rakyat (Up to RM50,000 assistance to all affected homes)
• Addressing the Issue of Contract Doctors and Provide Robust Welfare for Healthcare Workers
• Eliminating Gender Inequality & Enhancing Women’s Socioeconomic Participation
• Empowering the Regions of Sabah and Sarawak
• Improving the Competitiveness of All Malaysians Especially Vulnerable Groups
• Preserving the Environment for Our Future Generations

You can download the English version here and the Bahasa Malaysia version here

One key change that Pakatan Harapan needs do on our education & our schools need is to take religious studies and religious norms out of our schools and emphasize core subjects like Mathematics, Science, Computer Coding, Big Data, Robotics, and Space. Another thing for Pakatan Harapan is to allow the best of the best into our public universities irrespective of background. Image source: Freedom From Religion

Action Plan Key Salient Points

Educational Reforms

Education is the only way out from poverty and misinformation and if this is not handled fair and squarely and in the right direction, it can spell the end of progress for any country. Education is the main area of governance that is in a big mess with experiments with different types of curricula over the years. The impact is on the students, teachers and also parents.

Free Breakfast

UNICEF estimates that nutritional problems among children doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic. HARAPAN will increase the allocated funds for the current free breakfast program.

This is an important step to ensure that more than 500,000 recipients will be provided with the nutritions needed for every single day in their schooling session.

Tackling Dilapidated Schools

The infrastructure gap between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak shows that the educational gap has never been prioritised despite Malaysia achieving more than 60 years of independence.

To ensure that high quality education can be provided to all Malaysian children including those in Sabah & Sarawak, renovating dilapidated schools will form the core of the Education Reform. This includes increasing the expenditure of constructing new buildings through modular construction and IBS while also aiming for more efficient school building maintenance.

Cross-Cultural Programmes

As a multiracial and multicultural nation, Malaysia must maintain this identity and uniqueness so that it may be inherited by future generations. To encourage unity at an earlier stage for the younger generation, crosscultural programmes will be carried out for national schools, vernacular schools, and religious schools.

Fair Allocation

To help each and every group within the Malaysian society which has differing needs, fair allocation of funds will be provided to all schools including Sekolah Kebangsaan, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC), Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT), Sekolah Berasrama Penuh, Maktab Rendah Sains MARA, Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan, Sekolah Mubaligh, Sekolah Tahfiz, Sekolah Agama Rakyat & Sekolah Agama Persendirian, registered Sekolah Pondok, Sekolah Menengah Jenis Kebangsaan, and Sekolah Menengah Persendirian Cina (SMPC).

Ethnic Languages

Expanding the capabilities of teaching ethnic languages at Institutes of Teacher Education (IPGs) to preserve our heritage and ensure that more teachers are trained in line with efforts to cultivate a more cultured generation.

Abolish UUCA (AUKU)

To monitor the continuous efforts of Education Reform, priority must be given to granting autonomy for Universities & Institutes of Higher Learning. Therefore, Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) will be abolished and students, lecturers, and alumni will be recognised as the true stakeholders.

Targeted PTPTN Loans Forgiveness

To overcome the issue of unreasonable study loans among students including PTPTN debts, a targeted Loan Forgiveness Program for those living in poverty and students who come from B40 households will be introduced. The PTPTN repayment schedule will also be adjusted based on the income of fresh graduates beginning from RM4,000 with increasing percentages based on salary.

More Admission Opportunities

Ensuring more high-achieving SPM & STPM graduates are provided the opportunity to continue their studies in IPTAs. This will ensure that the opportunities will be given to academically-inclined students who truly deserve them.

Disaster Resilience

National Disaster Protection Scheme

Assistance based on damages of up to RM50,000 for every household affected by natural disasters.

Strengthening NADMA

Reassessing the structure and strengthening the operations of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) to increase the capacity for managing and reducing risks from natural disasters and indicating early warnings.

Climate change is real and yet one Minister in charge of the environment can blatantly say that Malaysia will not be impacted. It is predicted that by the year 2030, the sea level is expected to increase by 4 feet and 5 feet by the year 2050. By then, a number of coastal areas like Klang which is under Pakatan Harapan are marked in red and expected to be under the sea. Map source: Climate Central

Environmental Protection

Climate Change Act

Tabling the Climate Change Act which will set targets for carbon emissions and forest coverage by 2040. Efforts were started by the Pakatan Harapan government but were put on the backburner after Perikatan Nasional and Barisan Nasional took over the administration.

Ecological Fiscal Transfer

Capitalise on Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) by increasing funding for forest financing up to at least RM1 billion to state governments as an incentive to ensure that forest reserves are not degazetted.

Marine Protection Areas

Increasing the percentage of Marine Protection Areas to 30% by 2030 to legally protect valuable areas from being exploited.

Sustainable (MADANI) Economy

Renewable Energy

Increasing investments in renewable energy to achieve the 50% target of the country’s total primary energy supply (TPES) mixture. More incentives will be provided to private premises including homes that transition to solar energy.

Reducing Carbon Footprint

Supporting green projects and ensuring 20% of 10,500 public premises will be given allocations for smart energy and renewable energy installation projects as part of large-scale infrastructure expenditure. This will reduce the government’s carbon footprint, stimulate economic activities, and increase green job opportunities.

Spurring Industries

Strategic Funding

Introduce more strategic funding which will strengthen the capacity of Malaysian-owned companies to participate in direct domestic investments. In the same vein as the Domestic Investment Strategic Fund (DISF), the funds must allow domestic companies to upgrade equipment (automation), increase research & development efforts, upskilling workforce through training initiatives, and acquiring international accreditation for their products.

Export Incentives

Preparing more export incentives to encourage international trade such as tax incentives for triple deductions on expenditure related to business movement for encouraging export; providing grants and incentives for online marketing or marketing campaigns by local companies to increase global sales.

Empowering MSME & Entrepreneurs

Human Resource

Overcoming labour shortage by streamlining the recruitment process for foreign workers to ensure that MSME operations can continue without disruptions.

Increasing Productivity

Providing incentives or grants on productivity solutions specially for MSMEs to increase capital utilisation efficiency. Eligible expenditures include purchase of technological equipment, tools/solutions for digital marketing, consultancy and technical services.

Advancing Sports Economy

Sports Training Destination

Upgrading selected sports complex to position Malaysia as a high performance sports training destination. Sports facilities will be equipped with the latest technology allowing athletes to train and rehabilitate efficiently. These athletes will receive a higher quality training and rehabilitation experience

Career Management Skills

Preparing potential athletes including those in esports with personal knowledge and skills. At an early stage, these athletes will be exposed to financial management and communication skills, essential competencies for long term success in the industry. This will help build a truly robust sports and esports ecosystem.

Transition for Former Athletes

Cultivating partnerships with the National Athlete Welfare Foundation (YAKEB) to prepare skill training programmes and careers for former athletes to ensure that they live comfortable lives after retirement

Development of National Creative and Culture Industry

Establishing Independent Film Board

Establishing an independent, professional, and transparent film board that will comprise industry members, artists, and members of civil society who have the proper credentials to regulate films and improve existing structures.

Streamlining Licensing System

Amending the licensing system and legal framework to reduce undue stress inflicted upon local artists. This includes obstacles to creative capacity leading to spaces for arts and culture no longer being given freedom.

Protecting the Well-being and Ensuring Competitiveness of All Malaysians

Stateless Conundrum

Solving the problem of statelessness within the Indian community and other communities, which will be coordinated through a special committee under the PMO and its report presented in Parliament and reviewed by the Special Select Committee in Parliament.

This Special Committee will also coordinate immediate assistance in accordance with the needs of this group until the citizenship application process is completed.

Eradicate Discrimination

Addressing all forms of discriminatory barriers especially in the education sector, in the workplace and in matters of residential tenancy

Royal Commission of Inquiry

Establish a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the abuse of power and misappropriation of funds dedicated to socioeconomic development such as Maika Holdings, MIED, SEED, SEDIC, NAAM, Penjana Kerja and MITRA, and others to ensure that all offenders are brought to justice.

The keeper & protectors of the forest & nature are our Orang Asli and yet we have not accorded enough protection and facilities to them, To make things worse, there has been a blatant intrusion into their hunting ground. It is the same situation as the Red Indians in America. Image source: Pinterest

Safeguarding the Rights of Orang Asal (Sabah, Sarawak, and Peninsular Malaysia)

Strengthen Native Customary Land Rights

Defending the dignity of Orang Asal and strengthening native customary land rights by amending the relevant laws and policies.

Bridging the Developmental Gap between Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia

National Administrative Coordination Council

Establishing the National Administrative Coordination Council involving agencies that operate autonomously for the regions of Sabah, Sarawak, and the Peninsula.

Deputy Prime Minister from Sabah & Sarawak

To facilitate the administration of the National Administrative Coordination Council, two (2) Deputy Prime Ministers will be appointed. One from the Borneo regions and one from the Peninsula.

Empowering Sabah & Sarawak through the Implementation of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement

Revenue Sharing

Implementation of 40% of Sabah regional revenue to be returned based on the original formula of Article 112C and Subsection 2(1) Part IV of the Tenth Schedule in the Federal Constitution. For Sarawak, a review must be made as stated under Article 112D Section 3, which is every five years.

Implement IGC Report Recommendations

Returning the power to appoint the Judicial Commissioner of the High Court of Sabah and Sarawak to Tuan Yang Terutama (TYT) of both regions as stated in the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.

Ensuring that the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and all 12 documents, especially the IGC, are respected and that any matter that has conflicted with the original intention of the agreement will be implemented as intended.

Decentralisation of Power to the Regions of Sabah & Sarawak

Native Employment

The Borneonisation policy states that 70% of the staffing of all central and state agencies are prioritised for the children of Sabah and Sarawak who are eligible, especially at the top level.

Any action to be taken to solve the issue of illegal immigrants in Sabah should also include the influx of immigrants in the Peninsular, especially in Selangor & Kuala Lumpur. It is estimated that as of May 2021, there are about 102,950 Rohingyas in the country illegally. They already started to become a national headache and a serious threat to our national security. Image source: FMT

Solving Issues of Foreigner Influx in Sabah

HARAPAN acknowledges that there are four (4) main categories in the problem of the foreigners influx in Sabah, namely Dubious identity card (MyKad) holders, Philippine War Refugees, Stateless People and llegal Immigrants (PTIs).

HARAPAN considers it necessary to establish a Special Task Force involving related agencies to find a comprehensive solution relevant to their respective responsibilities.

Creating Job Opportunities and Attracting Investments in Sabah & Sarawak

Basic Infrastructure

The Federal Government plays an important role in solving basic infrastructure problems in all industrial parks in Sabah involving water, electricity, sewerage systems and roads by providing allocations in the form of grants.

Greater Democracy, Accountability and Participation at All Levels Of Government

Stronger Public Participation

HARAPAN is determined to give the people a platform to encourage public engagement at all levels through a consistent and open platform. This is especially important because it involves citizens’ interests that can have an impact on their lives – such as local development projects and local policies.

Working Towards Representative Democracy in DBKL

The HARAPAN government will work hard to empower democracy and transparency in DBKL through systematic methods. This effort will ensure that all Malaysians can elect representation that is reliable, inclusive and represents the interests of the people, not the developers.

Digitising Government: Empowering Service, Delivery and Reducing the Burden of Civil Servants

Access for All

Access to the entire administration via smartphone. Efforts need to be consolidated for all counter services (JPJ, Immigration, and others) so that the people can get instant government services without having to queue for long periods of time.

Standardisation of Public Services

Streamlining overlapping or redundant procedures with the aim of reducing the workload of civil servants. This step will also make it easier for people to deal with government departments.

Our national security policy should look at greater participation and involvement from India which Dr. M alienated when he headed the 2018 Pakatan Harapan Govt and that includes Indian-made naval ships & weapons such as the BrahMos cruise missile seen here being test-fired from the Indian-made stealth missile-guided destroyer, INS Kolkata during a naval exercise in 2015. Image source: Naval News

National Security

Single Border Agency

Establishment of a Single Agency and the Use of Big Data and Artificial Intelligence in border regulatory issues. This practice has been implemented in many other countries and is vital to effective border management.

Government And Defence Procurement

Enact the Government Procurement Act and overhaul the Defence Procurement Process to protect against leakages, corruption and abuse of power that often occur in the procurement and maintenance of defence assets

National Defense Industrial Policy (NDIP)

Drafting the National Defense Industry Policy (NDIP) which will be a guideline for developing science, technology and the national defence industry to reduce dependence on external parties and at the same time create a comprehensive national defence ecosystem.

A Respected Malaysia On The Global Stage

Influential Middle Power

Positioning Malaysia as a middle power that can play a greater role in shaping the regional and global geopolitical landscape. By continuing to adhere to the Neutrality Policy, we will emphasise bilateral relations that can promote development and strengthen the country’s economic progress.

HARAPAN is also committed to preventing the involvement of external powers that could affect the country’s sovereignty and avoid Malaysia from getting caught up in the conflicts between the world’s great powers.

Final Say

To be frank, the proposed action plans do not need to be done by Pakatan only but by any progressive government that wishes to see the country to be developed both from an infrastructure and man resources point of view.

However, we have seen how the governments under Perikatan Nasional that were formed after the Sheraton Move and Barisan Nasional governed the country and the various shortcomings in their governances. Despite the various shortcomings namely from a governance point of view, they however did the right thing by ensuring that the legal proceedings against the ex-Prime Minister, Najib Razak continued although some other cases did not proceed.

To be fair, the 2018 Pakatan Harapan government was not perfect either but it was expected considering that it is the first time they got hold of control of the Federal Government. Further the lack of experience and also the shock of taking over the Federal Government from Barisan Nasional who at that point did not lose, Pakatan had to turn to the last guy who most Malaysians wanted to see as the next Prime Minister – Tun Dr. Mahathir.

This needs to change for the benefit of the country.