I refer to Pakatan Rakyat’s General Election
Manifesto which was launched today.
Kedah Gerakan Youth observes that a number of the
promises made in Pakatan’s Manifesto were similar to those made during 2008
General Election. However, these promises were never fulfilled in the states
governed by Pakatan. For example:-
1.
To Lower Water Charges
In Pakatan’s Manifesto for 2008 General Election,
they promised not to increase Water Tariff in Kedah and may even reduce it.
However, in year 2010, Kedah’s Water Tariff was increased upto 100%.
Penang’s Water Tariff was also increased under the pretext
of Water Conservation Surcharge.
2. Implementation of Procurement by Open
Tender
Many of
the state projects in Pakatan states were never awarded through Open Tender.
Examples are Kedah’s Aman Central RM500 million shopping mall, construction of
KUIN main campus (RM330 million), Amansuri condominium (RM109 million), Penang WiFi
project (phase 2) and the award of Penang
housing consultancy contract for Batu Kawan.
3.
Free University & Abolishment of PTPTN
There are currently 2 major universities under the
governance of Pakatan states, being KUIN (Insaniah) and UNISEL. Since taking
over Selangor & Kedah, Pakatan had never given free higher education to all
students in UNISEL & KUIN. Both these universities relied on students using
PTPTN loans to pay their fees. In 2011, Kedah Pakatan government had even
increased the fees for KUIN despite protest from its students.
4. 150,000 Affordable Housing For All
Since taking over Kedah, Pakatan Rakyat had failed to
build any low cost house for Kedahans. In the Auditor General Report 2010, it
was stated that not a single low cost house was built by the Pakatan led Penang government.
5. Academic Freedom & Abolishment of
UUCA
In 2010, KUIN (under the administration of Kedah
Pakatan government) suspended 5 students who protested against a decision of the
university’s administration. The suspension was made under the provisions of UUCA.
The suspension of the students was never reduced despite public protest.
6.
To reform laws to regulate logging activities
Despite public protest over environmental damage,
Kedah Pakatan government still refuse to stop the logging of forest reserves in
the state, including Pedu, Gunung Inas and the latest, Bukit Perangin.
7. Media Freedom And Restoring Trust In
Media Practitioners
In
2011, Kedah Pakatan government barred a number of media from covering Kedah
State Assembly after these media reported the state’s failure to handle the
flood situation. Even in Penang, certain media
are not allowed to cover state functions from time to time.
From the examples above, Kedah Gerakan Youth are
skeptical on the sincerity of Pakatan Rakyat in implementing all the promises
in their latest manifesto.
The actions taken by Pakatan government in Pakatan
states didn’t reflect their promises in the past 5 years.
Thus, we hope Pakatan Rakyat would review their
Election Manifesto so as not to mislead Malaysians in the upcoming General
Election.
