KUCHING: State Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Chong Chieng Jen highlighted five categories that have been accomplished since PH’s historic capture of the federal government a year ago.
According to him, the five categories were just the summary of many “great achievements” made by PH throughout its one-year tenure.
He said the ruling government has cleared Malaysia of its kleptocracy image at the international level, thus regaining its international status and respect.
He said this will translate into more confidence in foreign direct investments and an increase in international trade.
“Secondly, the government has saved the country from going bankrupt in renegotiating mega deals entered into by the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government, saving billions for the country,” he said.
“If we were to have another five more years under the previous government, the country would be beyond redemption,” said Chong who is also Stampin MP and Kota Sentosa assemblyman.
On the third achievement, Chong said these are institutional reforms such as the posts of Prime Minister and Finance Minister which are now held by different people, and the prime minister’s tenure is limited to two terms.
He said another example of an institutional reform is the appointment of an opposition MP as the Parliamentary Select Committee (PAC) chairman, and the fairer media coverage by RTM.
“Previously the ruling party had 100 percent control of airtime, whereas the opposition had zero percent from RTM.
“Now, it is more or less divided equally, so there is no reason to complain,” he said.
Economic projects which benefit the people were listed as PH’s fourth achievement. These included suspending the floating RON95 and diesel prices and capping them at RM2.08 and RM2.18 (otherwise, currently RON95 should be RM2.51 and diesel should be RM2.48, subsidising the people RM133 million per week).
“We have also replaced GST with SST which saved tax payers a total of RM20 billion in taxes payable to the government.
“We have also decided to refund GST and income tax owed by the previous government in the total sum of RM37 billion, which will be made in the first ten months of 2019,” he said.
PH’s fifth achievement relates to Sabah and Sarawak’s special position, which is the formation of a Cabinet committee to look into the implementation of the rights of both states under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
“We had the tabling of Article 1(2) of the Federal Constitution amendment bill to restore Sabah and Sarawak to their rightful position as per the 1963 Federal Constitution,” he said.
Also present during the press conference were Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong, Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei, Pelawan assemblyman David Wong, Tanjong Batu assemblyman Chiew Chiu Sing and Chong Siew Chiang who is the father to Chieng Jen.
