The recent tabling of the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) by Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Ismail Sabri in Parliament has been met with criticism from a majority of lawmakers as well as the rakyat regarding several of its policies and measures. Doubting that it will truly a be game changer for Malaysia, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Iskandar Puteri, Lim Kit Siang in a statement on Saturday (2 October 2021) urges for the 12MP to undergo several changes that is in line with the Federal Constitution, Rukun Negara and the ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ concept.

The DAP veteran lawmaker asserted,

“If the 12^th Malaysia Plan is really to be a game changer, it must accept that  every citizen is a Malaysian instead of being Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans or Orang Asli; or Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikkhist or Taoists.”

Furthermore, while Lim lamented the sad commentary that both the Federal Constitution and the 1970 Rukun Negara had failed to build a united Malaysia even after six decades as exemplified by the need for a ‘Keluarga Malaysia’ slogan by Ismail Sabri’s government, he believes that such a ‘Malaysian Family’ spirit should be the guide in the implementing 12MP, Budget 2021 as well as all government policies and measures. The Iskandar Puteri MP also stressed that Ismail Sabri should be given a chance to prove his sincerity and commitment towards the Keluarga Malaysia concept despite building his political career on a narrow concept of Malaysia with UMNO.

Lim commented,

“I always believe in the capability of human beings to grow and learn from the lessons of life and I strongly believe that Ismail Sabri should be given a chance to prove his sincerity and commitment to the concept of a Keluarga Malaysia.”

The Iskandar Puteri MP then outlined 4 measures that Ismail Sabri should implement inside 12MP in order to make it a true game changer for all Malaysians:

1. Scrapping the 51% Bumiputera ownership requirement for freight forwarding companies.
2. Implementing a 10-year plan to end abuses and deviations of the New Economic Plan.
3. Stepping up the war against corruption and kleptocracy and turn Malaysia into one of the top 30 countries in the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2030.
4. Introducing a policy assurance to all non-Muslim religions that there will be no law or government measures that will undermine freedom of religion as enshrined under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.

Within the same statement, Lim also urged for the Prime Minsiter to present a ‘Keluarga Malaysia 100-Day Report’ of the government’s performance in Parliament instead of just instructing his Cabinet Ministers to annoucne their respective 100-Day Report Card without much scrutiny.

The government can do so when Parliament convenes on 7 December 2021 in which a motion on the report can be debated in the Dewan Rakyat. – The Rocket.