PUTRAJAYA – Several PKR delegates have brought forth their hopes and suggestions for the Madani government to enhance the country’s standard of living in the coming years.
Speaking to Scoop, representatives from the women’s and youth wings articulated their perspectives on the necessary political changes for the nation’s longevity and prosperity.
Saloma Salmin, who is deputy head of the Kota Marudu PKR women’s wing in Sabah, emphasised the need to bolster the economy by phasing out subsidised items.
“Currently, there are numerous complaints about the economy, particularly regarding oil, food and beverages. People have voiced concerns about rising prices. I hope the Malaysian economy can be strengthened by eliminating subsidies, fostering stability and gaining support from all Malaysian citizens,” she said.
Saloma also expressed her desire for women to advance further, addressing past administrative weaknesses. She hopes for increased female participation within PKR, highlighting her alignment with the party’s anti-corruption stance.
Another Sabah delegate, Magdalene Sandy, who is a committee member of the Keningau PKR women’s wing, hopes for increased support for women under 40 and fresh graduates.
Magdalene, 66, also anticipates the opening of more industries to boost youth employment and expects the Madani government to promptly rectify loopholes in the nation’s laws.
“When PKR used to be in the opposition, we would not be respected if we tried to approach members from other parties.
“Now, I feel like I can speak to other party members and receive the same level of respect as them,” she said.
She said she supports PKR because its leader, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, started his career from the grassroots level, and that he understands the struggles of the common folk, adding that his leadership will help restore the country’s standing at the international level.
Venissha Nirel John Kennedy, who is the secretary of Johor PKR’s youth wing, emphasised the importance of young leaders maintaining their principles without compromise.
Concerned about questionable compromises, she urged for the identification and implementation of long-term solutions to recover taxpayers’ money. She also advocated for boosting the local economy and empowering communities for job creation.
“Right now, the pendulum is swinging and our principles are getting a bit questionable because we have to compromise here and there. So, I hope we have more young leaders who are not afraid, or don’t fall into the trap of compromise as what most would call ‘politik lama’ (old politics).
“In the first year where we have managed to identify a lot of the root causes (of this nation’s issues), we have been struggling because there were a lot of things left behind that we cannot recover.
“As an example, the recent Auditor-General’s Report showed that out of RM208 billion, there’s over RM704 million of taxpayers’ money missing, and this is not even the full overview of it yet.
“Now that we have identified such a huge gap, we should find long-term solutions to have money spent back into the country to return the taxpayers’ money,” she said.
She also said that she expects the government to move forward in boosting the local economy, not just with foreign investment, but also by empowering the local community to provide more job opportunities.
She added that she chose to support PKR after reading one of Anwar’s books about bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, and realised that his principles aligned with her beliefs.
Parit PKR youth chief Mohamad Haidir Mahmud, 30, said he hopes the Madani government will diversify activities and programmes to decrease the marginalisation of women and youth in his area.
He also said that for the next five years, he hopes that the government will control the issue of food quantity to ensure that there is enough stock available for everyone. – November 26, 2023