KUALA LUMPUR – Nine key institutions will be placed under Parliament’s purview if Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) secures a win in the coming 15th general election (GE15), according to its manifesto, which focuses on anti-corruption and integrity.
The document dubbed the New Malaysia Agenda highlighted the attorney-general, inspector-general of police, chief justice, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner and chief of the Defence Forces as well as chief secretary to the government, Treasury secretary-general, auditor-general, and Bank Negara governor.
This is part of its pledge on Bangsa Wibawa (competent nation), the first of seven agendas detailed in its manifesto.
In a video on Facebook today, GTA pro-tem chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said his coalition will not promise the rakyat “the moon and the stars”, and that its pledges are doable.
“From past experience, we found that there are too many promises and the promises are beyond our capability, it is almost a certainty that they can’t be fulfilled.
“Even if they are, they will burden the government to a point that certain programmes of public interests had to be sidelined.”
Dr Mahathir said it is with this realisation that GTA gives its commitment to ensure that the coalition will form a competent and responsible government that is free of corruption, among other things – if it is given the mandate to rule the country.
He added that GTA will also adhere to the principle of a clean, efficient and trustworthy government, an administration with integrity that upholds the rule of law, and will focus on improving the economy.
Under the Bangsa Wibawa agenda, GTA also promises to mandate politicians to make asset declarations to MACC and to strengthen the element of separation of powers.
Separately, the coalition vows to form a Royal Commission of Anti-Corruption and Integrity, as well as enact a Political Party (Management) Act and Political Funding Act.
On its Bangsa Bertamadun (civilised nation) agenda focusing on education, GTA pledged to reshuffle the leadership structure of the Education Ministry to appoint professionals and academicians into top positions, with minimal political intervention.
It also plans to integrate both physical and online classes in line with time, and to provide better access to higher education for B40 and other marginalised groups, among others.
Other key promises in GTA’s manifesto include:
- reducing income gap and ensuring fairer distribution of development funds
- developing new economic territories
- reconsidering the ratification of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership to give greater benefit to all citizens
- empowering the Malaysia Competition Commission to address the issue of monopoly, cartels and profiteering
- strengthening climate change adaptation plan
- empowering non-governmental organisations and civil society movements
- reducing the cost for childcare and senior citizens. – The Vibes, November 10, 2022
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