Opposition PKR today unveiled its election manifesto for the 12th general election with the slogan a 'new dawn for Malaysia' promising a constitutional state, vibrant economy, safer streets, affordable livelihood and better education for all.

It was a humble launch of election campaign website, HarapanMalaysia.com and manifesto at the party’s de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s office in Petaling Jaya with local and foreign press present.

The 20-page manifesto makes five promises if elected into power. They would:

  • make Malaysia a truly constitutional state for all but ensuring the rule of law and an independent judiciary as well as guarantee basic human rights and reject all forms of racially divisive politics.
  • create a vibrant economy by replacing discriminative polices that only enrich the elites with a policy that ensures assistance to the poor regardless of race by eliminating corruption and wastage.
  • make the streets and neighbourhoods of Malaysia safer by quelling the endemic mismanagement of the police force for political ends, internal division and tolerance of a culture of corruption that has crippled the police.
  • make Malaysia more affordable by lowering the price of petrol in line with higher Petronas profits and using profits to regulate the prices of basic goods and to prevent tolls and tariffs from being exploited in enriching conglomerates.
  • increase the standards of Malaysian education by allowing institutions of learning to freely engage the best practices that raise the standard of education, pay educators the salaries their profession deserves, and enable universal access to scholarships and higher quality education for all.

Setting itself apart from other parties’ manifesto, PKR expressly states that the dismantling of the New Economic Policy is necessary to ensure social justice for all.

keadilan manifesto general election 2008"The NEP has outlived its purpose. It is now obsolete and it had being abused to enrich the families of Umno leaders and their cronies," he said.

Asked to comment about Barisan Nasional’s manifesto launched yesterday, Anwar replied "(it was) much ado about nothing," drawing giggles from reporters.

"They haven’t even fulfilled their promises from the last elections, how can they make new ones? I don’t think there is anything serious other than repeating and making new assertions," he said.

"I think my friend (Prime Minister) Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is in denial," he added.

Abdullah and top BN leaders revealed the ruling coalition’s election manifesto yesterday entitled ‘security, peace, prosperity’.

To enter Parliament

Anwar also confirmed that he will definitely stand in a by-election after his ban from holding public office expires in April.

However he denies that this encourages nepotism as both his wife and party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and eldest daughter Nurul Izzah Anwar are standing for the Permatang Pauh and Lembah Pantai parliamentary seats respectively.

Both have expressed their willingness to forgo their seats in order to allow Anwar to enter Parliament.

pkr manifesto launch pc 260208 group"Nepotism is when you give RM3 billion contract to your son or when you suddenly have young individuals becoming billionaires.

"Nurul Izzah on her own has been through struggles and hardship when I was in prison. When she was my daughter when I was deputy prime minister, she declined scholarships from Petronas, this is on record," he asserted.

Also present at the launch was Wan Azizah, deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali, vice president R Sivarasa, information chief Tian Chua and programme director Din Merican.

Economic issues and crime are prominently features in manifestos from all the parties this year and it's expected to be the crucial decisive point for voters when they cast their ballots on March 8.