KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan (PH) has forgotten that it was voted in by the people to “ubah” (change), said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Women chief Kho Teck Wan.
Disappointed that PH had failed to fulfill what it promised its 100 days in office, she added, “We need to acknowledge that there is always a reason for failing to deliver the promises. Unfortunately, the reason given mostly is that it was the fault of the previous administration.”
For failing to change the matriculation quota which currently remained at 90:10, PH, she said, used one of its most famous reason – the policy was there since BN’s ruling.
“It is a classic case of PH forgetting that it was voted in to make changes. Many of its U-turn policies indicate that the country is run by inexperienced leaders who unfortunately didn’t bother to consult more experienced personnel or refused to work with or accept the advices from professionals,” she pointed out.
She added,” A special committee set up to study MA63 was one of PH’s 100-day promises. What we see is the setting up of the steering and technical committees for MA63. The committees even had some meetings.
“However, what we see so far is that PH bypassed the MA63 committees and tabled an amendment bill in the parliament that further affirmed Sarawak as one of the states in Malaya. Are the MA63 committees just for show?”
Touching on Sarawak’s infrastructure development, Kho said many federal infrastructure projects were cancelled.
“The reason given most often is lack of funds due to the huge debt inherited from the previous government.
“Ironically, other states are having their new infrastructure development projects approved such as the new multi-billion-ringgit LRT project in Penang and Kulim Airport in Kedah.
“PH also promised to maintain BR1M, but what we see is BSH giving out financial assistance that is half the amount given by BR1M. Singles in the lower income group who didn’t register with BR1M before are no longer eligible for BSH.
“PH promised the i-Suri which provides housewives with monthly retirement fund through their husbands’ monthly salary deductions.
“What we found out was that the benefit is only available to those registered with the e-Kasih, the group with a monthly income below RM1,500 for a city resident and RM1,000 for a rural resident.
“Since the current minimum wage is RM1,100, not many can truly benefit from such a scheme,” she said.
Kho pointed out that one of the famous reforms promised by PH was that the Prime Minister should not hold the post of Finance Minister.
“But Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad became the chairman of the Malaysian government’s sovereign wealth fund, Khazanah Nasional, which aims to grow financial assets and diversify revenue sources for the country.”
