‘Economic reforms will benefit all races’
| February 27, 201
PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli
admits that Indians have specific problems but says that the matter must be
addressed in totality.
UPDATED
PETALING JAYA: Structural reforms to
the economy would benefit all Malaysians irrespective of racial background,
said PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli.
Speaking at a press conference here,
he added: “When it comes to free education and healthcare policies mentioned in
our manifesto, the Malays and Indians will benefit the most.”
He said this in response to
questions on why the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto did not include specific
programmes for the Indian community.
Also present were PKR vice-president
Tian Chua, PAS central working committee member Dzulkelfy Ahmad and Bukit
Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong.
Rafizi, however, admitted that the
Indians had specific problems that needed attention but insisted that the issue
must be addressed in totality.
“And our manifesto must be read
together with our Common Policy Framework and the Orange Book,” he said.
Rafizi also explained why the
manifesto had specific programmes for the Orang Asal and East Malaysians.
Orang Asal, he said, had land
ownership problems that would require reforms to laws governing indigenous
land.
“As for East Malaysians, the
economic gap between them and West Malaysians is huge. In addition, it is also
about upholding their rights as per the Malaysia agreement,” said Rafizi.
Commenting on the matter, Tian Chua
said that Pakatan strove to break the racial and religious barrier that has
divided Malaysians for long.
“So when we talk about university
intake, all qualified will get a place irrespective of your background,” said
the Batu MP.
He added that that Pakatan
government would continue to uphold the affirmative action but tweak it to
become need-based instead of race-based.
On Indians, Tian Chua assured that
the community’s problems such as those stateless would be resolved.
“As for our manifesto, rest assured
that it is not cast in stone and we are open to feedback,” he said.
