While the new education blueprint may appear rosy, Pakatan Rakyat has warned of Barisan Nasional’s other grandiose programmes which had turned out to be duds.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said in the past BN had introduced various programmes to tackle corruption, as well as the government transformation programme.

“They may have paid millions to the expensive consultant and in the end, in its implementation it was shallow,” said the Permatang Pauh MP.

“They have paid consultants to fight corruption, nevertheless it increases, with dubious contracts awarded without proper tender. There have been impressive pronouncements but I do not think there is a serious effort to implement it,” he said, adding that this remains to be seen.

Yesterday Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak launched the new education blueprint with the aim of revamping the present education system.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, who was also present in the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council meeting, said every incoming education minister will introduce a new education policy.

However, he said the results have been the same - that is Malaysia has been declining in the education sector.

Lim said in 1996 he met then-education minister Najib Abdul Razak suggesting that Malaysia enter the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the country took part in 1999 and again in the 2003 and 2007 surveys. 

“In the 2003 result we were better than in 1999. However, the 2007 results showed we fell drastically compared to other Asian countries. The 2007 results were revealed only four years later,” he said.

Following this, Lim who is also Ipoh Timur MP, said if the government is serious in handling the educational decline, it should support the setting-up of a parliamentary select committee on education for MPs to give their views and give their recommendation.

‘Nasha and Karpal spat a personal thing’

Anwar was also quizzed about the spat between PAS former deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa and DAP chairperson Karpal Singh over hudud, and he replied that traditionally PKR does not interfere with PAS matters.

Asked on the on-going intention by Karpal to sue Nasharuddin, Lim said he considers it a private matter between Karpal and the former deputy president.

“It is a PAS matter (on the decision to retain Nasharuddin) as far as the DAP is concerned,” he said.

Nasharuddin has been asking the Islamist party to review its position in Pakatan Rakyat following DAP’s opposition to hudud.

On Sunday, it was reported that PAS maintained Nasharuddin in the syura council despite his stinging comments.

Related stories

PKR will be in Johor on Friday, threat regardless

Bus attack: Surrender or we'll get you, police tell suspects

'Police do probe insult cases, attacks on Pakatan leaders'

'Suara Pakatan Rakyat website not linked to Pakatan'

Right to protest, but not to gatecrash events