NGOs seek feedback for 'People's Manifesto'

 

A coalition of NGOs has launched the second round of public engagement to gather feedback and ideas on policy and reforms.

In a statement today, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) said the Manifesto Rakyat 2.0 project will take place over the next five months.

“From February to July, the project will engage with the public nationwide through submissions, surveys, roadshows, forums, interviews and focus group discussions.

“The outreach activities will include urban and rural communities, as well as Sabah and Sarawak, and marginalised groups,” it said in a statement today, inviting the public to fill in an online survey.

The project will culminate in a final document comprising four key pillars, namely: People and society; people’s rights; people’s wellbeing; and people’s institutions. The document will be published in multiple languages, including Malay, English, Tamil and Chinese.

GBM said the time is ripe for Manifesto Rakyat 2.0, as the federal government and several state governments have been in power for more than three years.

“Much has happened in our national politics since then, so the government's performance can now be judged fairly and critically.”

It added that Malaysia needs new ideas and wisdom from the ground up as it responds to global challenges, including artificial intelligence, US tariffs, rare earth resources, and the resurgence of nuclear energy.

The launch of Manifesto Rakyat 2.0 engagement sessions today comes nearly four years after the first report was launched in May 2022.

The 224-page document covered a wide range of policy areas, including cultural identity and religious harmony, parliamentary reform, electoral reform, health, environment, and more.

Manifesto Rakyat 2.0 will cover additional policy areas, namely senior citizens, defence and national security, housing, economic development and justice. This is to cover gaps in the previous report.

Govt running out of time

GBM warned that while some major reforms - such as citizenship for children born to Malaysian mothers overseas - have been passed into law, the status of many other reforms is still uncertain and may not be implemented in time for the next general election.

“We would like to remind the federal and state governments that time is running out if they are serious about keeping their promises.

“If political parties in power do not fulfil their manifesto and election promises, voters will call their bluff and likely turn their backs on the parties, which have already lost voters' trust,” it said. - Mkini