Global Movement of Moderates CEO Saifuddin Abdullah today urged the government to review decisions made on living costs so as not to add to the hardships already faced by the people.

In a statement heralding the New Year issued today, the former deputy minister and ex-Temerloh MP also hoped that 2014 will be a “year of healing”.

“We believe that Malaysians are generally reasonable people. They would be able to appreciate the challenges that we as a country would have to face together, if the approaches used, policies implemented and programmes undertaken are of reasonable nature,” Saifuddin said, while noting that Malaysians have been facing uncertainties over the past two years thanks to the political climate.

“It is when the people deem some of the government’s actions as unreasonable that they will start to feel discontent,” Saifuddin added.

Saifuddin said that it was “easy to understand” why people would be anxious about what 2014 might bring.

“With the likelihood of a significant rise in living costs, unresolved religious issues, trepidations over the apparent lack of freedom in mass media as well as issues pertaining to human rights, it is easy to understand the people’s anxieties in what the coming year shall bring,” he said.

“It can thus be said that some of us will leave 2013 feeling hurt,” added Saifuddin, who is one of the more vocal and liberal leaders within Umno.

While welcoming Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s 11 moves to cut costs in government expenditure, Saifuddin proposed that the government go a step further by adopting e-procurement and e-bidding technologies in order to curb corruption.

He said that it was important for 2014 to be a win-win year for all Malaysians as the country will chair Asean in 2015 - but stressed that local concerns must take precedence over the role in international community.

“As the adage goes, a house divided against itself cannot stand,” he said.

Saifuddin said that GMM would contribute in areas such as bipartisan politics in order to realise a better 2014 for all Malaysians.