Rais Hussin – Manifesto 'great responsibility', not 'big burden'

Bersatu's chief strategist Rais Hussin, who was one of those responsible for drafting Pakatan Harapan's election manifesto, said the document should be viewed as a “great responsibility” instead of a burden.

“Instead of finding reasons why we can't deliver it, we need to find ways to deliver it,” he told Malaysiakini.

“The manifesto was written not by plucking figures and facts from the sky... We had a laborious eight-month (period) of contestation of ideas on how to come about a manifesto that was pragmatic, practical and could be implemented,” he said.

Also integral to the process, he added, were data from independent researches as well as feedback from NGOs, the legal fraternity and all four Harapan component parties.

However, Rais acknowledged the need to recalibrate the manifesto in light of new realities such as the nation's RM1 trillion debt.

On the same note, he vowed that it would not compromise the broader promises contained in its five main thrusts.

The five main thrusts are reducing the people's economic burdens, institutional and political reform, sustainable and equitable economic growth, returning Sabah and Sarawak to their status as per the Malaysia Agreement 1963 as well as creating a more inclusive and moderate Malaysia.

Rais was responding to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad describing the manifesto as a “big burden” and that it was prepared at a time when Harapan did not imagine forming the federal government.

Mahathir had said this when explaining that it would be impossible to abolish tolls on highways as promised by the coalition in its manifesto.

PKR rep: PM may have more information now

Meanwhile, PKR's representative on the manifesto drafting team, Sim Tze Sin, said pledges, such as the abolition of tolls, had been drafted without full knowledge of the country's finances or toll concessions.

“I think the PM is being briefed on more details (about tolls).

“He might know the details (now) more than us. At that point of time, we did not have the full financial details as well as (access to) the concession agreements,” he told Malaysiakini.

Sim, who is the agriculture and agro-based industries deputy minister, said while certain pledges must be re-evaluated, there were those which could be implemented.

“Majority of the pledges can be done.

“[...] We also had promises on women (issues), institutional reform, parliamentary reform, children, youth and people with disabilities,” he pointed out.

“Love it or loathe it, the Harapan manifesto has given a clear policy direction that provides stability, sense of direction and idealism for future Malaysia.

“[...] Don’t underestimate the contributions of the manifesto,” he added.

An overview of the Harapan manifesto can be accessed here. -Mkini