25 January 2019

Press Statement by MCA Secretary-General Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun

Support for Ambiga in holding govt accountable

MCA recognises and praises the effort of National Human Rights Society (Hakam) President Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan and all the 50 NGOs who have stated their stand on calling the Pakatan Harapan government to honour their pledges and promises made during the 14^th general election (GE 14).

Post GE-14, Ambiga has remained true to holding the government of the day accountable to their words and deeds, be it BN or PH holding office. On 24 Jan 2019, she informed that her group can be very unforgiving to Pakatan Harapan (PH), should it decide to backpedal on its election promise to reform GLCs.

I believe people will support Ambiga and all NGOs who stand firm with their beliefs and continue the battle against any injustice and Unrighteous.

To state just a few unfulfilled and broken promises:

1)   UEC recognition is delayed with detailed study in next five years vs Promise 50 of the Pakatan Manifesto pledges: “PH will undertake to recognise UEC certificates ato enter public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) provided that applicants have a credit in Bahasa Melayu at the SPM level. For this purpose, the UEC certificate will be assessed to be equivalent to the existing general qualification for entry into IPTA”.

2)   Reinstatement of SST led to prices increases vs Promise 2: Reduce the pressures caused by prices increases

3)   Appointing politicians (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad and Dato’ Seri Azmin Ali) to Khazanah Nasional Bhd’s board of directors, and cronies (Mohamed Haniff Khatri Abdulla who is Dr Mahathir’s lawyer is now Chairman of the Penang Regional Development Authority (PERDA), vs Promise 22: appointments of state and national GLC Board members will be made based on merit and professionalism, not based on politics

4)   Still no local council elections vs Promise 25: Strengthen the role and powers of local authorities

5)   Refused to ratify ICERD vs Promise 26: Make our human rights record respected by the world

6)   Moratorium lifted on Sedition Act 1948 vs Promise 27: Abolish oppressive laws

Let us all support Ambiga in ensuring and insisting that the new government honours their promises in their much touted Manifesto during GE14.

Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun

MCA Secretary-General

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