First Session of the Twelfth Parliament
motion OF THANKS ON the ROYAL ADDRESS BY DYMM AGONG
~ YB DATO’ SERI ONG KA TING ~
Ahli Parlimen Kawasan Kulai
30 APRIL 2008
Tuan Speaker, myself Dato’ Seri Ong Ka Ting, Member of Parliament for Kulai, request to propose the Motion to thank to DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong, Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah for delivering the Royal Address at the First Meeting of the First Session of the Twelfth Parliament yesterday, 29 April 2008. My Motion is as follows:
“Your Majesty,
At this Parliamentary Proceeding, the Members of the Dewan Rakyat and myself, humbly seek to present a speech with all sincerity from the Members of the Dewan Rakyat extending our highest blessing and appreciation for the Royal Address during the Opening of the First Session of the Twelfth Parliament.”
Tuan Speaker, please allow me to extend the highest congratulations to Tuan Speaker for being elected as the Speaker of this august House. I also wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the two Deputy Speakers who were also elected.
RAKYAT’S MESSAGE at the 12th General ElectioN
On 8 March, multiracial Malaysians exercised their rights to elect 222 honourable members of this august house. I extend congratulations to all honourable members and hope that we can discharge our duties and responsibilities with dedication, honesty, sincerity and show exemplary conduct as proposed during His Majesty’s royal address.
Tuan Speaker,
On 8 March , the rakyat not only voted and returned Barisan Nasional (BN) to continue leading the country. At the same time, many amongst them have voiced out their feelings through their votes. From the results of the recent general elections, we need to consider and take cognisance of the varios messages sent by our rakyat. They also want the government to further improve the country’s administrative system and to correct every existing weakness. What is important is that they want the attitude of all political leaders and civil servants at every level should demonstrate openness, sincerity, efficiency, clean governance and integrity, besides consistently and wholeheartedly safeguarding the priorities of every rakyat consisting of various ethnicities.
This also means, the rakyat’s perception on corruption, bureaucracy, discrimination in whatever form and also of power abuses should be discarded and seen to be corrected. We must work hard towards bringing new hope to the people and give the impression that the government is willing to listen to the rakyat’s dissatisfaction and voice, and willing to change for the sake of the future of our beloved country and for the betterment of future generations.
New foundations must begin with today....
Tuan Speaker,
A) Anti-corruption
His Majesty’s Royal Address had stated, “the economic achievement and development which we enjoyed thus far would be meaningless if corruption, abuse and irregularities continued to take place.”
I welcome YAB Prime Minister’s announcement on 21 April 2008, regarding efforts to combat corruption especially with the restructuring of the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA), with the establishment of the Malaysian Commission on Anti-Corruption (MCAC), Parliamentary Committee on the Prevention of Corruption and Anti Corruption Advisory Board.
Corruption is the number one enemy in our country now. Although Malaysia signed the “United Nations Convention Against Corruption” on 9 December 2003, and set up Malaysian Institute of Integrity (IIM) at 5 November 2003, beside ensuring that the ACA carried out its responsibilities, positive results which were hoped for through the anti-corruption campaign has yet to be satisfactorily seen.
Apart from the afore-mentioned efforts, I also recommend to the government to implement the following initiatives to ensure that efforts to combat corruption will run smoothly and effectively. Amongst them:-
1) Setting a timeframe for all levels of departments and agencies from the federal government to the local government on the processing period for all types of applications for approvals and announcing them to the public. Once announced, the government departments and agencies have to follow one clear, simple and transparent procedure which complies with the work charter to process the said application. If the processing timeframe is not complied with, they must give a reasonable explanation for the delay. This step is necessary to avoid situations where any officer deliberately slows down the duration to process the application with the hopes to receive bribes, or give opportunity for people to take advantage of others.
2) Whistle blowers are the most important sources to the MCAC to initiate investigation and to aid in the investigation process. However, up to this stage, there has not been any effort undertaken to protect these people. Therefore, a whistleblower mechanism must be incorporated to protect whistleblowers and it should be given due attention under the law.
3) In 2007, Malaysia occupied the 43rd spot in Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index (CPI), ending a five year downward trend. Heavier penalties must be imposed against corrupt practitioners, regardless of whether they hold high or low positions in the civil service or private sector. It is high time that we insist and practise “Zero Tolerance” against corruption, just like ICAC from Hong Kong and CPIB, Singapore.
Once a wrongdoer is found guilty, appropriate punishment from the government will be seen as a deterrent measure. For those involved with and penalised for corruption, they will lose their pensions from the government. These deterrent measures will prevent corruption properly.
I also welcome the move to increase the number of anti-corruption personnel from 1,800 to 5,000.
MCAC should have direct prosecution powers to take legal action against suspects, without going through the Attorney General’s Chamber, enabling the anti-corruption process more efficient.
Efforts against corruption must be the main priority of the government now. The government must take a stand and stern actions to fight corruption, fulfilling the aspiration of the rakyat who thirst for a clean and healthy government.
When we discuss about efforts to overcome corruption, it is essential that preventive measures undertaken result with effectiveness.
Prevention must be effective. Often times, many of the culprits involved in corruption consist of those who wield power especially politicians who misuse power, betray the rakyat’s trust and siphon the rakyat’s money for self importance. It must be recalled that there are still many Malaysians who are farmers, fishermen, labourers, factory workers, hawkers, petty traders, drivers, low income wage earners who compose various ethnicities – Malays, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans as well as Chinese.
This low income group needs plenty of government attention and encouragement to overcome the challenges in the lives of their families.
They cannot stand hearing or being told that there is plenty of money valued at hundreds of millions of Ringgit allegedly being extravagantly spent or misused.
For low income or low-medium income earners, an encompassing strategy needs to be drafted to protect their interests. They hope that the rakyat’s money which has been collected through taxes will be properly beneficial to the rakyat. There are certain cases where individuals encountering financial problems are still waiting for help or aid, whilst on the other hand, there is the perception that certain quarters have siphoned the rakyat’s money, continuing to enjoy a well off life.
As a result, a negative perception clouds the government’s image. In this context, the government is sometimes viewed as merely announcing pro-active initiatives but has not come up with measures that are truly effective. Hence, the government should ‘erase’ this ugly assumption with concrete actions and a strong political commitment to convince the rakyat.
B) Establishment of Judicial Commission & Judicial Reforms
Tuan Speaker,
I welcome His Majesty’s Royal Address which touched on the government’s commitment to reform and strengthen our country’s judiciary system. I wish to state my support on the agenda for judicial reforms outlined by YAB Prime Minister at the dinner organized by the Bar Council on 17 April 2008.
The establishment of an independent Judicial Commission to look into issues on the appointment and promotion of judges and increasing the judges’ remuneration is timely. This step will be seen as being able to regain public confidence in our judiciary if we can show that the appointment and promotion processes of judges are transparent, objective and accountable. Therefore, we are moving with the times as such manner of appointing judges has already been adopted in many countries throughout the Commonwealth.
Tuan Speaker,
The proposed role of the Judicial Commission is to recommend candidates to the Prime Minister who will then consult the Conference of Rulers before advising the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on who should be appointed as a judge or promoted to a higher office. In other words, when the Prime Minister consults the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice’s choice must be candidates recommended by the Judicial Commission.
In this respect, I wish to add that likewise the candidates the Prime Minister recommends to the Conference of Rulers and the Agong must be from among those recommended by the Judicial Commission too. Every effort to reform the country’s judiciary will be wasted if the Prime Minister is found to recommend his own choice of candidates who are different from those recommended by the Judicial Commission who have gone through the vetting process undertaken by the Judicial Commission.
I hope the establishment of this Judicial Commission takes into account the following matters:
1) Devise a stringent vetting process of candidates to avert any accusation that only the connected are being considered for judgeship,
Doing away with Judicial Commissioners who are appointed on a temporary basis owing to the concern that these Judicial Commissioners owe their allegiance to the Chief Justice who will decide whether they should be recommended to be full High Court judges, and wall no longer follow the existing selection mechanism as stated in Article 122AB of the Federal Constitution. This means that the Judicial Commission then acts to advise the Yang di-Pertuan the Agong on which qualified candidate to be appointed as Judicial Commissioner.
2) Letting the Judicial Commission recommend candidates to be appointed as magistrates and sessions court judges who are currently appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission. This Judicial and Legal Services Commission is an Executive body of the Honourable Attorney General who sometimes appears before them is also a member of this Judicial and Legal Services Commission and the AG is also a member of the said Commission. In other words, the AG can decide on the promotion prospects of magistrates and session court judges. There is concern that if this mechanism is still being used and not substituted by the new independent Judicial Commission, the magistrates and judges will be accused of not being independent if they should rule against the Government even though their decisions are correct in law.
Speaking of perception, we cannot help but notice that the composition of our judiciary does not reflect the multi-racial aspect of our society. We cannot deny the fact that judges are also human too and as much they want to be perceived to be independent and transparent; factors such as religion, racial and their cultural backgrounds can influence their thinking that are perceived as independent and rational before this. Therefore, to give a more positive perception, a composition of judges who reflect multiracialism definitely will bring positive impacts.
I am not suggesting a racial quota be applied to judicial appointment. Of course, a judge’s appointment must be based on merit, capability, intelligence, independence and integrity; and it should not be seen as having any connection with background, descent and gender. But at the same time we must correct any perception that our judges will not be able to adjudicate fairly and impartially on sensitive issues particularly relating to religion if a person’s faith becomes an issue before a panel of judges whose religious faith and belief differ from him/her.
At this stage, I would also like to propose that we bring back a system of trial by jury for very serious criminal cases.
With that, I wish to welcome efforts by YAB Prime Minister to improve and strengthen the judicial reforms which will certainly give hope to our rakyat and country.
C) RELIGIOUS RIGHTS OF NON-MUSLIMS
The last three years witnessed an unprecedented number of religious matters involving the constitutional rights of non-Muslims with controversial cases like the late Moorthy and Gan Eng Gor; or Lina Joy, detention of Revathi, or the custody battle for the children of Shamala and Subashini.
Earlier this month, there were statements that the proposed legal amendments that will affect and protect both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Non-Muslims are not to be subjected to any form of Syariah laws, and for any disputes or overlapping areas between the jurisdiction of the civil and Syariah courts, civil laws must prevail. We urge the Government to be transparent in this process to avoid a repeat of the cases mentioned above.
Meanwhile, we uphold the 1994 Tan Soong Mooi unanimous Supreme Court decision whereby conversion to Islam does not negate the convert from fulfilling his/her legal obligations and responsibilities under his/her civil marriage whereby any marriage contracted through civil law may only be dissolved by civil laws.
In the case where one parent embraces Islam, the religion of a minor must be decided by both parents. Should a dispute on the child’s faith arise, the religion must remain as status quo until the child reaches the age of majority, that is 18 years upon which the child decides.
The pending Rukumony court case reveals an inheritance tussle for recipients who were named as beneficiaries before the benefactor embraced Islam. In the event a muallaf dies, the property comprised in the estate of the deceased prior to the date of conversion should be subject to the civil laws of inheritance and succession for the time in force.
In situations involving non-Muslims who became a Muslim due to marriage, the muallaf should be allowed to renounce Islam when the marriage has ended. Similarly if a child who was unilaterally converted to Islam by one parent without the consent of the other parent, the child should be allowed to maintain his/her original religion until he/she attains the age of majority by which he or she is free to enter into a religion of his or her choice.
D) Gender Issues
The Government must make a full commitment to adhere to Article 8 of the Federal Constitution which assures us equality before the law. On 25 April 2008, New Straits Times published a letter by a Malaysian woman who expressed her frustration over the Malaysian government’s policy of denying citizenship to children on the basis that they were born abroad to a Malaysian woman. Article 8(2) of the Federal Constitution spells “there shall be no discrimination on the ground only of religion, race, and descent, place of birth or gender in any law.” Therefore, Malaysian citizenship must be granted to children to all Malaysian mothers, irrespective of her marital status or place of residence. Denying her children the rights is both unjust and unconstitutional.
E) Education
MOTHER TONGUE EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF PARTIALLY AIDED SCHOOLS
Mother tongue education is one of the most important assets of our country. The multilingualism in our community is also something special in our country.
Therefore, we must ensure the capability of students to converse in both Bahasa Malaysia and English be enhanced, to enable the rakyat to communicate more smoothly with each other, as well as to interact with the globalised world effectively.
The Government should assist in the development of vernacular schools whether SJKC, SJKT, partially aided schools like Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR) and mission schools, based on the parents’ and community’s needs and not wait until public outcry. We have to respect public opinions. Every citizen in this country has his/her right to study in their mother tongue education as contained in Article 152 of the Federal Constitution. Therefore, the government needs to detail the number of vernacular schools that are required to be built in respective areas.
The Government has allocated RM38billion for education in the 9th Malaysia Plan. This is one of the biggest allocations ever provided. The Government should fully utilize the benefits of the fund to fulfil all the schools’ needs. At this juncture, I propose that the Ministry of Education institutionalise a mechanism in building new SJKC and SJKT according to the needs of areas with a high Chinese and Indian population density especially in the Klang Valley, southern Johor, Kinta Valley and Penang.
To show the government’s commitment in this matter, I propose that the cost of building new schools which were agreed upon before the previous General Elections, that are 6 new SJKC and the relocation of 13 SJKC be bourn by the government.
Tuan Speaker,
Recently, the Minister of Education indicated his intention to consider the applications to reutilise SJKC Damansara’s former building. I welcome such a statement from the Minister of Education, and request that the application to reuse SJKC Damansara as a new SJKC should be approved within the shortest timeframe.
Additionally, the development of SJKC, SJKT and SAR also require attention and immediate action from the government. All this while, schools of different streams have been separated into 2 categories according to administration by the Ministry of Education, that is partially aided schools and fully aided schools. This matter has raised ire and dissatisfaction among the multiracial community of Malaysia.
Overall, the School’s Management Board and Parents Teachers Association of partially aided schools have aired their grievances about the difficulties in obtaining development allocations although the school urgently requires financial help due to the school building’s deteriorating condition. Sometimes, allocation to manage partially aided schools is insufficient to cover utilities bills and this has forced the School’s Management Board and PTA to source for funds from parents.
Tuan Speaker,
The time has arrived for us to think out of the box by removing the old practice of different treatment between partially aided schools and fully aided schools. The mindset that the government cannot help partially aided schools is completely rejected by the rakyat especially in this era when our nation’s core leaders emphasize developing human capital.
Nobody loses out if the Ministry of Education treats all schools as government schools irrespective if they are SK, SJKC or SAR and will be fully aided in terms of development and daily operations. This is one of the reforms that the rakyat hope for.
There were 643,679 students in Chinese schools, and 103,284 students in Tamil Schools in the year 2007 which comprise 22% out of 3.4 million primary school pupils in Malaysia. In fact, these are significant numbers. In an effort to build human capital who will contribute to our nation, it is essential that the allocations for schools are used effectively.
PROBLEM OF SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS IN SJKC
The problem of the shortage of teachers in SJKC has occurred for decades and up till today still has not been completely resolved. Presently, SJKCs face a shortage of 3,500 teachers and this figure is expected to grow until the ratio of teachers in primary schools will increase from 1.5 to 1.7. Therefore, it is hoped that the Ministry of Education must use a new method to solve the shortage of teachers in SJKCs. The Ministry of Education needs to check the estimate number of teachers which they have conducted and the accuracy is always questioned as it does not portray the accurate situations occurring in schools.
Herewith, I urge the Ministry of Education to compile the statistics and accurate estimation in addition to taking quick action to remedy the dilemma. The recruitment method for untrained temporary teachers and post retirement contract teachers needs to be done efficiently as a short term solution.
For a long term solution, the Ministry of Education must increase the intakes of Kursus Perguruan Lepas Ijazah (KPLI), Kursus Dalam Cuti (KDC)-Latihan Perguruan Berasaskan Sekolah (LPBS), Program Ijazah Sarjana Muda Perguruan (PISMP) for SPM holders. A more flexible combination option needs to be created at Institute Pendidikan Guru (IPG) and all IPGs that have closed down Chinese studies teaching courses have to be revived particularly IPGs around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
Tuan Speaker,
The Teaching and Learning of Science and Mathematics in English Policy (PPSMI) that has been practised since 2003 needs to be re-examined as soon as possible. At the secondary school level, the reaction from the community is quite positive to continue the PPSMI at the secondary school level.
At the primary school level, I also welcome the announcement that the decision to continue the PPSMI at the primary school level will be determined after the UPSR this year. Meanwhile, on 18 April 2008, the Education Minister also announced the Ministry of Education’s proposal to strengthen the usage of English at the primary and secondary school levels to include the introduction of English Literature.
Once again, I wish to state that the Chinese community are of the particular opinion that PPSMI at SJKCs should be dissolved and returned to the original system, that is, using the mother tongue. Many opine that usage of mother tongue in the PPSMI is simple to comprehend by all pupils aged between 7 until 12 years. At the same time, the Chinese community has also agreed to enhance the usage of English starting with Standard 1 in primary schools.
F) MISSION SCHOOLS
In addition to national and vernacular schools, we must also recognize the immense contributions of mission schools to the education landscape of Malaysia, educating multiracial children with not only academic education but an all rounder character development since the 19th century. Mission schools are very much like any other national and vernacular schools in Malaysia, catering for students irrespective of race, religion or background. Mission schools also inculcate loyalty among her students for the Agong and country whilst instil a sense of compassion and care for the underprivileged of society. Many top figures were educated in mission schools. Mission schools are the excellent model for integration, living up to the spirit of Rakyat Malaysia.
Of the 226 mission schools in Malaysia, 53 are above 100 years old and need financial aid. As mission schools are classified as partially aided, teachers and students have to engage in fundraising activities. The Ministry of Education should allocate more financial assistance to them as well to improve and develop the infrastructure and quality of learning of the schools.
G) ECONOMY
2008 is the year for the mid-term review of the 9th Malaysia Plan. As in the past this is the time we relook and readjust policies that have fallen short of targets and objectives. The 9th Malaysia Plan is a well written, well thought and comprehensive plan. As such, I strongly urge the government that where we have fallen short of targets within the plans, we refrain from tinkering with the targets.
Instead we should make radical and innovative policy and/or implementation changes so that the things we have promised get done, such as good governance, transparency and speedy delivery systems.
The manufacturing sector which contributes 31.9% of GDP to the Malaysian economy was aimed at achieving an average 6.2% growth rates from 2005-2010. However, the current manufacturing growth rate has fallen to 1.8%. Manufactured exports have also stagnated gaining very little, from RM451.75b in 2006 to RM 452.48b in 2007. The government must look into this development with great urgency because industries and their vendors and suppliers are finding it hard to sustain their businesses in Malaysia if this trend continues.
We must also recognize that the successes of the Economic Corridors are pivotal for SMEs. The Iskandar Development Region which is now known as Iskandar Malaysia is one such initiative which has attracted RM20b worth of foreign direct investment so far. His Majesty’s Royal Address had stated that up todate, investments valued at a total of RM 33bn will be invested in the real estate, tourism and recreational sectors at Iskandar Malaysia. Iskandar Malaysia covers an area of 2,217 sq. km in southern Johor covering 5 key areas of Nusajaya, Johor Bahru City Centre, Senai-Skudai, Western Gate Development, and Eastern Gate. However, we are concerned that the development of the Iskandar Malaysia does not involve the local business community effectively as most of the leading companies of the Iskandar Malaysia are focused solely in Nusajaya.
The wholesale and retail, hotels and restaurants were worth RM38.4b in 2005 and are expected to reach RM53.4b by 2010. There are currently over 550 shopping complexes, over 300,000 shop units, and about 90 hypermarkets in Malaysia. We also have a very vibrant franchise system extending to South East Asia, China and Taiwan. Distributive trades covers over 1,000 sub-sectors of the economy ranging from food, clothing, accessories, restaurants, hotels, hardware shops and so forth.
In line with the Agong’s call that the distributive trade remains open and liberal, policies such as the ‘Guidelines to Foreign Participation in the Distributive Trade Services’ must not be adopted because it is detrimental to the retail industry and its supply chains, as well as the tourism industry. It would drive foreign investments away with devastating impact on the Malaysian economy.
We welcome MITI’s decision to standardize their ‘halal’ certification through the Halal Development Corporation (HDC) as this would mean greater efficiency in the certification process and procedure. It is envisaged that this would also bring about more transparent enforcement practices to ensure that the industry remains friendly to businesses.
I also support the Agong’s view that private sector investment has to be the main driver of the economy as this is the critical strategy in order to keep government budget deficits low and manageable. Private investments have been targeted to reach RM340.4b by 2010 from RM215.9b in 2005 or, 47.1% of the GDP from 43.7% of the GDP respectively. Current private investments is now only about RM231.1b falling short of expectations mid-term of the 9th MP.
In order we stay on target to achieve our targets set out in the 9th MP, I wish to advocate for more liberal policies to boost private investment in the following areas;
a) To have open tender in government procurement system. Open tender systems will introduce more competition and help reduce the operational costs of the government. Thus, avoiding situations such as having to pay RM300 for a screwdriver, or RM10,700 for a set of technical books or RM42.80 for set plastic vases. The government must also review this policy in view of helping our multiracial society of helping the poor and disadvantaged regardless of race and ethnicity.
b) The federal government must take effective measures and practise an Action Plan to increase the productivity of the agriculture sector which can generate success while sustaining the food needs of the country. One important matter that needs to be resolved in the agriculture sector is to help food production that is really needed to resolve land use woes.
Currently, there are thousands of farmers who for decades and generations have been cultivating the land but still have not been given the security of land usage be it long term or short term leases. I suggest the federal government through the National Land Council to come up with a policy to be followed by all State Governments so that the said farmers are assisted until their problems are solved.
Malaysia imports 82% or RM19.9b of our food consumed annually. In the 9th MP, we hope to attain food self-sufficiency by 2010. If the government is at all serious about attaining this target, we must act on this immediately as our food situation has become critical. I also urge the government to abandon the use of TOLs totally and replace it with a more viable solution.
Like many countries, Malaysia is currently faced with a food and oil crises which have all contributed to escalating inflationary pressures making it difficult to for the rakyat particularly, those in the lower income groups. We are now also possibly facing a weather crisis due to extended droughts, extreme flooding, global warming and water shortages throughout the world.
However, stockpiling, subsidies and price controls have been proven not viable as long term solutions because we have to deal with the institutional structures that have caused the system to be inefficiency in the first place. Structures such as Approval Permits, artificial monopolies and oligopolies, and multi-layered bureaucracy must be removed so that market competition can prevail. Allow free market prices to determine the demand and supply in the system.
At the same time, our welfare systems must be made more efficient in order that the poor and needy receive help and aid from the government , timely and sufficiently. We should target our efforts in helping the poor in their needs for basic housing, clothing, nourishment, education, training so that they are able to have gainful employment so they may contribute meaningfully in our society. Troubled youths, single mothers, abandoned children, aged and the handicapped must be accorded special attention by the government. Traders should be given licence while permits should be issued to taxi drivers. No one should be left out of the system. Urban poverty is becoming an ever more serious problem as urbanization increases. Therefore, eradication of poverty programmes under the Ministry of Housing and Local Government must benefit more by providing bigger allocations so that it truly works. Equal attention must be paid to rural poverty whether in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah or Sarawak to sincerely help the effected come out of poverty.
H) SECURITY AND CRIME
The government should be transparent on the status of implementing each of the 125 recommendations of the Royal Police Commission to create an efficient, accountable, incorruptible, professional police service to contain crime, eradicate corruption and uphold human rights. On top of that, the police force should be determined and courageous to implement drastic changes including reconsidering the proposal to establish an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC)
The efficiency of police forces to combat crime must be further heightened. The latest statistics revealed that the country’s crime index had risen sharply by 45% in the past four years. Last year, the number of reported criminal cases broke reached 224,298 compared to 156,315 cases in 2003. The crime index passed through the 200,000 barrier, with rape cases more than doubled from a daily average of four women in 2003 to 8.5 women daily last year. These figures are very serious and we can imagine the worries the rakyat hold on their personal safety.
At this moment when safety levels are seen to worsen, the rakyat expect the police to be much more efficient in arresting snatch-thieves, rapists, robbers and etc who threaten people’s lives. Meanwhile, corruption is rampant among law enforcers.
Therefore, I call upon the government to reconsider the proposal for the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
CONCLUSION
I) SOCIAL JUSTICE AND THE WELFARE STATE
We do not want a welfare state based on a socialist ideology. What we do want is a liberal system where economic freedom becomes the paramount principal of democracy.
The Rukun Negara, through its five tenets is based on the principal of liberal democracy which has a targeted focus. It was not built on the principals of a welfare state. Social justice and human rights must be delivered based on the principals of liberal democracy.
The Rukun Negara’s objectives include achieving unity among the races, preserving a democratic way of life, and creating a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a fair and equitable manner. They also encompass guaranteeing a liberal approach towards the country’s rich and varied cultural traditions and, lastly, building a progressive society that will make use of science and modern technology.
The Rukun Negara has formed the basis of our nationhood and this foundation should be embedded in our younger generation who are the future leaders of our country. The Rukun Negara is our guide for nation-building and should be respected by all. It is a shared vision for national unity. Its principles should always be upheld and practised for we must never take for granted the stability we have attained so far.
Tuan Speaker,
I am confident, if Malaysian citizens consistently uphold the principles of the Rukun Negara and are always united to develop the country based on the spirit of Rakyat Malaysia, hold firmly to the principles and spirit of the nation’s Constitution, we will successfully surge forward making our community more progressive and our country stronger and fortified.
Tuan Speaker,
With confidence, I apply for the motion to propose.
/End
The above speech is a translation of the
Bahasa Malaysia version which was read in the Dewan Rakyat on 30 April 2008. For further clarification, kindly refer to the Bahasa Malaysia version