'After the 2008 General Election, Pakatan could not fulfill a lot of the promises in their election manifesto for the very simple reason that their implementation required the cooperation of the federal government.
One good example was the promise to hold local council elections.
Pakatan states were willing and able to hold local council elections and this was shown by the Penang government's resolve when they passed a state assembly legislative law empowering them to hold them.
This however was thwarted by the federal government and the Election Commission which refused to cooperate to allow the Penang government to hold the elections.
The crux of the problem facing Pakatan was that as long as the federal government remains with the BN government, it will continue to face problems implementing the promises made in their manifestos.
This scenario should change immediately if federal power were to go to Pakatan. In the most optimistic scenario where the Pakatan government takes control of Putrajaya, the following policy implementation should be effected without undue delay.
1. The Printing Press Act should be changed and amended to allow the independence and free flow of information without unnecessary control and government influence.
2. Political parties should not own any newspapers or television media...
3. The prime minister's term of office should only be restricted to two. ..
4. The NEP with all its good intentions was thwarted from the beginning. It was never the intention of its original aims to be based on race. From the onset it should be based on needs...
5.... The three most important institutions of the MACC, the attorney-general chambers and the judiciary have to be totally reformed in order to regain public confidence....
6. The education system needs a total revamp. ... Since English is the language of commerce and science, mastery of this should be the top priority of our education system.
7. Anti-hopping laws should be introduced in Parliament. ...
8. Political parties should not be involved in business. ...
9. Laws against race discrimination similar to the ones in the US should be introduced...
10. The PM should only hold one portfolio. ...'
Full letter:
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/225837
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