DAP Youth wants NEP to focus on the poor

DAP Youth today approved a resolution calling for the New Economic Policy (NEP) to be reviewed so as to refocus its priorities on the poor.

The NEP introduced race-based affirmative action after the 1969 riots and expired in 1991, but key elements have been carried forward in subsequent economic policies.

"(DAP Youth) urges the government to review the NEP so as to more efficiently assist the poor and reduce the income gap between the rich and the poor in the country," said the resolution.

It was one of the 18 resolutions approved by the wing at its national congress today, during which a new leadership was also elected.

Several of the resolutions also declared support for various government policies, including the plan to abolish draconian laws, enforcing the Malaysia Agreement 1963, abolishing the goods and services tax, issuing tax refunds that the previous government had not paid out, and allowing non-citizen children to study in government schools.

It also lauded the government's plan to reduce the voting age to 18, uphold the principle of 'one person, one vote', and gradually increase the minimum wage to RM1,500.

However, on the government's plan to abolish the death penalty, it called for a parliamentary select committee to be set up to study the matter.

DAP Youth also backed the party central leadership's call for DAP elected representatives to focus on providing services to the people instead of chasing titles.

It also urged Pakatan Harapan component parties not to accept Umno party-hoppers.

Another resolution called for the government to educate people on human rights, particularly on the United Nations' nine core conventions related to the matter.

The possible ratification of one of the conventions in question, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd), had faced fierce objections from various parties, including Malay rights groups and the opposition. - Mkini