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Yesterday the Pakatan Rakyat (PKR) unveiled a 10-point manifesto for Sarawakians aimed at restoring the state's wealth to the people and bringing them abreast with the rest of the world. This posting reproduces the manifesto in full, in case any of you have not yet read it.
However, I should point out that this blog is not meant to give special support to any particular party. It simply reports the facts. If anyone sends me the equivalent manifestos of BN or other parties, I will also post them. It's always good to compare manifestos, as well as compare party promises to the reality on the ground.
1. FREEDOM OF BELIEF
WE GUARANTEE FREEDOM OF RELIGION as enshrined in the Federal Constitution without any form of hindrances and make no discrimination in assistance and allocations to a particular belief or religion and in the process maintain the status of Sarawak as a secular State.
2. GOOD GOVERNANCE
WE PROMISE GOOD GOVERNANCE premised on proven international principles of Competency, Accountability and Transparency (CAT),which will create and promote a clean administration of the State’s welfare, equal business opportunities, and bring back national pride, patriotism and self esteem in the public sector.
WE PLEDGE A FAIR DISTRIBUTION of the State’s wealth and riches, endeavoring to end the practice of favouritism, corruption, cronyism and nepotism.
WE PROMISE TO SET UP AN INDEPENDENT COMMISSION OF INQUIRY to investigate the allegations of ill-gotten wealth of BN politicians and their cronies, to ensure the due process of law and prosecution and to return the wealth to the people of Sarawak.
WE PROMISE to establish an Ombudsman to receive complaints from the public against corruption and power abuse by Government Ministers and heads of departments.
WE PLEDGE TO RESTORE local government elections for all local authorities including the adatruaiand/or custom of choosing the Village Leaders or Ketua Masyarakat in order to return power to the people at all levels.
3. LAND REFORM & NATIVE LAND COMMISSION
all expiring leases will be unconditionally renewed for 99 years; all s47 notifications will automatically lapse after 2 years of gazettal; all in perpetuity and 999-year leases will remain when land is approved for development; land alienation will be carried out through open tenders; and a Native Land Commission shall be formed having the power to investigate all Native Customary Rights land claims, and thereafter to survey and issue grant or leases to such lands in accordance with the adat or customs of the natives of Sarawak.
4. ERADICATION OF POVERTY
WE PROMISE to set up a RM1 billion State Poverty Alleviation Fund to ensure that no family in Sarawak lives below the official poverty line.
WE PLEDGE TO KICK-START THE RURAL ECONOMY by the construction of roads connecting all the rural areas of Sarawak that will quicken the provision and construction of public amenities including schools, kindergartens, medical services and telecommunications.
WE ENCOURAGE AND PROMOTE agricultural entrepreneurship, like small holdings through micro-financing to all farmers.
Berubahlah! Vote for a NEW Sarawak!
5. FEDERAL-STATE RELATIONS
WE PLEDGE to maintain good federal state relations in line with the spirit of the Malaysian Agreement 1963, and to ensure that any marginalization, neglect and omission on the 18 points be addressed immediately.
Confident that Pakatan Rakyat will take over the federal government WE GUARANTEE to increase the petroleum royalty from the present 5% to 20%.
WE BELIEVE that priority in employment opportunities in the public service of Sarawak should be given to Sarawakians.
6. GREENER SARAWAK
WE WILLENSURE the observance and implementation of State and International laws and/or conventions on the environmentfor the benefit of future generations of Sarawakians.
WE WILL STOP the constructions of excess dams.
WE FORBID the construction of nuclear powered plants in Sarawak.
7. A FAIR DEAL FOR ALL SARAWAKIANS
WE ARE COMMITTED to support stable economic growth, sustainable development and a fairer distribution of income and wealth based on hard work, competitiveness and technological innovation.
WE ENDEAVOUR to remain investor friendly, emphasizing long term investment in human capital by offering financial incentives to all industries to upgrade the technical skills of their employees as well as their production processes.
WE PROMISE the immediate registration of stateless Sarawakians and the unconditional granting of citizenship papers to all Malaysians of Sarawak origin.
WE PLEDGE a grant of RM200-00 for every child of Sarawak origin who begins primary one education.
In appreciation of their contribution to the State, WE PROMISE to give all Sarawakians above 60 years of age who are residents in the State annual welfare assistance of RM600-00 and to set up community support systems within every local government authority for their continued well-being.
8. CULTURE AND EDUCATION
WE RESPECT the constitutional rights of all ethnic groups to learn their mother tongues and to treat all mother tongue education equally.
WE PLEDGE that all schools regardless of background will be given systematic allocations according to needs as is practised in Penang, Selangor and Kelantan so that our children can have a bright future.
WE EMPHASIZE that Science and Mathematics subjects in secondary schools must be taught in the English language.
9. RIGHTS of WOMEN’S & THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
WE GUARANTEE gender equality and will REVIEW all laws that are discriminatory against women.
WE PLEDGE to establish women’s aid centres to shelter women suffering from violence and child care services to reduce the financial and psychological burden of working mothers.
WE PLEDGE to set up more special schools for children with special needs.
WE IMPLEMENT measures to employ those with disabilities and PROMISE incentives to employers who employ them.
10. INVESTMENT INTO THE FUTURE
WE PROMISE to tackle the flood problems in Sarawak in 2 years.
WE EMPHASIZE in long term investment in human capital and infrastructure to make Sarawak a great economy.
WIFI will be provided free to move Sarawak into a knowledge state.
Sworn in
