‘Bring back subsidies’, says PSM

This demand is among 11 resolutions passed by delegates at party's 13th national congress last weekend.

PETALING JAYA: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) delegates condemned the government’s move to withdraw subsidies on essential goods and demanded that they be reinstated.

It was among 11 resolutions passed by about 500 delegates at the party’s 13th national congress in Sungai Siput, Perak, last weekend.

“PSM is strongly opposed to the continuing increase in prices of essential goods as it is oppressive and burdens the people,” said PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan.

“Subsidies are necessary in a society where the people earn low wages, and healthcare and education is getting more expensive.”

Another resolution passed called on the government to move quickly on the Minimum Wage Act without “any further excuses”. When enacted, the minmum wage would be set RM1,500.

“Nothing has been done. We believe the government is going to set up some kind of mechanism just to buy time. We don’t want that,” said Arutchelvan.

The government was also asked to implement a workers retrenchment fund and an increase in Socso benefits for those in need as well as open more branches offices.

Another resolution called for an end to the Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN) loans as it has been “abused by private enterprises”.

Arutchelvan said that compared to other welfare countries where education is free, young Malaysian students are now “abused” by private colleges.

“PTPTN loans are putting people in debt at a very young age. Private schools are mushrooming but it does not necessarily mean better education standards.

“Many of these colleges are not here to ensure higher education standards, their main objective is money,” said Arutchelvan.

PSM against all form of forced eviction

PSM also called upon the government to give emphasis to providing housing for the poor and low income group.

“The massive problem of maintenance of low cost flats in the country must be seen as a national issue and given due attention,” he added.

“Local authorities should take over the maintanence of low cost flats as the current charges are making those staying there paying almost as much as in terrace houses.”

PSM also urged the government to end all forced eviction of urban pioneers, estate workers and farmers, and provide secure housing for the marginalised.

Meanwhile, PSM also supported the Bersih 2.0 gathering planned for July 9 and said that the general election must be reformed to reflect the principle of ‘one person one’ vote’.

“The difference in voter size between the largest electorate and the smallest, should not exceed 10%,” said the resolution, which renewed the call for local government elections.

Among the other resolutions passed were: to do away with the Malaysia-Australia refugee exchange plan, drop all nuclear energy projects, put a stop to wastage of money on arms purchases, to restore the citizenship status of the late mother-tongue educationist Lim Lian Geok, and abolish forms of draconian laws such as the ISA, Emergency Ordinance, Sedition Act, Printing and Presses Act and University and University Colleges Act.