PETALING JAYA: The government has been urged to set up a roadmap and timeframe for the reform agendas of the New Malaysia to be examined and monitored by civil society.
DAPSY Deputy Chief Chiong Yoke Kong said this would help ensure that the government was not off course and could prevent reactionary groups from availing their slightest chance to destroy efforts to build a New Malaysia.
He said this in support of DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang’s call to push forward and implement reform agendas in order to build a New Malaysia.
“Since taking office, the government has been actively investigating and cleaning various malpractices of the previous government, as well as kickstarting political reforms to ensure that every level of the government can perform their duties accordingly with the establishment of scrupulous accountability systems,” Chiong said in a statement today.
“Some crucial agenda reforms include electoral reforms, reinstating the role and authority of the Parliament and State Assemblies, improving the status and welfare of opposition parties as well as judicial reforms. “
Chiong, who is Tanah Rata state assemblyman, said some quarters have begun questioning the new government. An example would be the recent remark by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad where he rejected the idea of local government elections due to the racial divide, he said.
“Besides reinvigorating the economy, it is of the utmost importance for the new government to implement institutional reforms gradually,” he said.
“Among all, judicial reforms, electoral reforms and empowering the rakyat would be the most crucial directions that we must be heading to.
“Reinvigorating the economy helps ensure the rakyat’s wellbeing so that they will not be troubled by livelihood issues.
“Fixing judiciary protects the individual and political rights of every citizen.
“Reforming electoral system, including proper delimitation of constituencies and upholding the spirit of ‘one person, one vote’, prevents unscrupulous politicians from fanning the flames of identity politics and ‘kidnapping’ the rakyat by using ethnic appeals all the time.”
He said the Pakatan harapan (PH) government has to announce the roadmap and timeframe of these three reforms to open up space for the civil society to examine and monitor us at all times.
This effort will also help boost the rakyat’s confidence on various reforms implemented by the new government, therefore gaining strong support for the new government’s initiatives, he added.
