KUALA TERENGGANU: The government needs to look at a new policy to narrow the poverty gap among all races with emphasis given to the Malays who make up the largest pool of poor in the country.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datuk Serti Anwar Ibrahim said while the National Economic Policy (NEP) had a measure of success to uplift the Malays out of poverty, but it was obvious that there were weaknesses if a report by United Nations expert Philip Alston were to go by.
“The Prime Minister had responded positively to the report. It was shocking but if we were to go down on the ground poverty was confined to farmers, fishermen, hawkers and estate workers and not as claimed by the report.
“But this is not all gloom and doom because the government had taken measures to alleviate poverty and spends some RM26 billion to RM28 billion a year,” he said after opening State PKR headquarters at Bukit Besar, here.
The Port Dickson Member of Parliament said the affirmative action and effective implementation needs to be taken by introducing additional measures that transgress racial boundaries despite the Malays and Bumiputeras being the majority.
“We have implemented the NEP, but obviously the poverty gap is widening based on the UN expert’s report. We must make brave decisions because poverty affects all races, with the Malays and Bumiputeras making up the biggest group.
Asked if there was a need for a new policy, Anwar said the government should think outside the box to come up with an economic policy that would help ease the (financial) burden of those living in poverty.
On the failure of PKR’s vice-president Azmin Ali to attend party meetings and the failure of the disciplinary board to take action against him, Anwar said all party leaders must attend party meetings, which includes monthly and weekly meeting of the respective bureaus.
“We will require all to attend but sometimes those who cannot attend will provide valid reasons,” he said.
Anwar also refuted the presence of factions in the Pakatan Harapan component member.
“News of camps in the party was often highlighted by the media. But as you noticed today, all divisions came for this programme. And when the party held a retreat some months ago, less than 10 per cent failed to attend.
“So if 10 per cent who could not attend the retreat, does that mean that there are factions in the party? I don’t think so because it is impossible to get 100 per cent attendance. The most important thing is that the programme continues and those given the responsibilities execute their tasks,” he said.
“I don’t believe there are factions in the party. Difference of opinion among leaders is quite normal and we discussed it internally.
Asked if party members love Azmin, Anwar said if he was not loved he would not have been elected the party’s vice-president.