Nurul proposes “We the Rakyat” for PM’s consideration

Nurul Izzah says that a website for online petitions would be a great avenue for the rakyat to voice their grouses and a “worthwhile democratic right.”

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar has suggested that the prime minister give serious consideration to the setting up of an online petition website, much like the one in the US, where citizens or individuals could raise important issues affecting them.

She was referring to the “We The People” website where an online petition to secure the release of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim was launched and surpassed its goal of 100,000 signatures in one month, necessitating the White House to now take up the issue.

“Any response by any Head of Government on our so called domestic issues is and has always been an accepted international practice when any miscarriage of justice or tyranny is done,” said Izzah.

She referred to Malaysia’s comments against South Africa’s apartheid policy in the 1970s, its continuous comments against Israel over Palestine, the condemnation of Syria’s Assad regime; as well as criticism against the US itself for Guantanamo Bay related atrocities, and many more.

However, she added, what is overlooked in the White House Petition is the commendable format for any citizen or individual to raise any issues; subject to collecting sufficient signatures to merit response from the President. “Such an avenue created is a worthwhile democratic right.”

Therefore, she said, “I call upon Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to establish a similar democratic mechanism for ‘We the Rakyat’ to raise any issues with at least 10,000 signatures (as we are smaller than the US) for our Premier to respond to.”

If the Prime Minister’s Office has any budgetary constraints, she said she was certain that “the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) can allocate some of its CSR (corporate social responsibility) contributions to manage it; or turn to crowd-sourcing from the rakyat”.

Earlier she had castigated Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek for evoking the spectre of Washington interfering in the domestic affairs of Malaysia.

“His statement has been made to just cover up the fact that Umno launched a counter petition to the Free Anwar Campaign with 60,000 false signatures,” said Izzah who is the eldest daughter of jailed Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.