Proposal of a new coalition government post-BN and post-PR with new Prime Minister to “Save Malaysia” has drawn interest, support and encouragement from MPs from both BN and PR, former Ministers and public intellectuals

The proposal of a new coalition government post-BN and post-PR with a new Prime Minister to “Save Malaysia” has drawn interest, support and encouragement from MPs from both BN and PR divide, former Ministers and public intellectuals.

For instance, this is one of the messages of support and encouragement which I have received for the idea of a new coalition government post-BN and post PR:

“I read your five fundamental principles for a new government. I fully support them. You might also need an agenda to address inequalities and opportunities for all. All the best.”

I fully agree.

I first broached the idea of a new coalition government post-BN and post-PR with a new Prime Minister to “Save Malaysia” at the Bukit Bintang DAP Branch anniversary dinner four days ago last Sunday.

This path-breaking political initiative can only come about if the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak deviated from the stand of the first five Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein, Tun Mahathir and Tun Abdullah and the bedrock UMNO/Barisan Nasional nation-building principle and policy that hudud law is against Malaysian Constitution, the 1963 Malaysia Agreement and not suitable for a multi-racial and multi-religious nation like Malaysia – either by going against this principle or not daring to reiterate and reaffirm this core nation-building principle.

The ball as to whether Malaysians should seriously explore the idea of a new coalition government post-BN and post-PR with a new Prime Minister to “Save Malaysia is now in Najib’s court.

Apart from the five fundamental principles of such a new coalition government post-BN and post-PR which I have outlined, the new coalition government post-BN and post-PR must also fulfil two other criteria if it is to be a viable and sustainable government.

These two criteria are:

Firstly, it must be fully inclusive of all Malaysian races, religions and regions, in other words, a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-regional new Malaysian coalition government comprising Muslims and non-Muslims, Malays and non-Malays, and Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah.

Secondly, it must issue a visionary and forward-looking programme to restore Malaysia’s greatness and allow Malaysia to punch above its weight in many areas of human endeavor, whether political, economic, social, educational, information technology or environmental.

It must for instance be able to incorporate a 10-Point Programme for a High-Performance, Sustainable and Equitable Economy, viz:

(i) Workforce that is knowledge-based, competent and high-skilled.

(ii) Economy free from corruption, abuse of power and cronyism in order to enhance efficiency, accountability, transparency and good governance.

(iii) Decentralisation and the Empowerment of State Economic Management in keeping with the spirit of federalism and efficient expenditure to boost efficiency and productivity.

(iv) Affirmative action policies based on need.

(v) Just treatment for Workers to ensure their welfare and prosperity, including minimum wage for all Malaysian workers.

(vi) Social safety net to ensure life with dignity at all times for Malaysians, strengthen the Employees Fund system, introduce a pension scheme for private sector employees and a National Retrenchment Fund to provide temporary financial support for those who have lost their jobs.

(vii) Increase the number of affordable housing and achieve the goal of “One Family, One House”.

(viii) Guarantee good public infrastructure and facilities without burdening the people or profit certain cronies, like clean water and electricity at reasonable rates; review of all highway toll agreements to improve to improve efficiency and reduce cost of public transport system.

(ix) Protect environment and promote the practice of recycling, control deforestation and ensure smooth transition to the use of alternative energy resources.

(x) Sustainable growth and green development by introducing modern, comprehensive and appropriate infrastructure for a low-carbon economy.

There are many aspects of Malaysian nation-building which should be the concern and focus of the new coalition government post-BN and post-PR.