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PAS No 2: Dump BN-Umno, go for a technocracy
Published:  Feb 22, 2016 7:27 PM
Updated: 12:50 PM

PAS has called for the formation of a new political coalition be formed to allow technocrats to lead the country with the decision-makers being chosen based on their technical expertise and background.

Its deputy president, Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, in an open letter today to the people and also the opposition, said BN-Umno was no longer seen as a saviour of the nation but as its destroyer.

“With GST, BN-Umno is seen as a parasite. Hence, a new coalition should be formed (to topple Umno-BN),” he said in the open letter.

He noted that the pressures of the global economy coupled with the dwindling price of petroleum had resulted in thousands of workers laid off, causing problems for the rakyat.

“The government has the responsibility to strengthen the economy and come up with a plan to develop other resources. We should not allow the current situation to persist without any alternative or long term plan.

“The failure under the premiership of Najib Abdul Razak with the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as a resolution has worsened the economy further.

“The people are forced to pay tax while the government continues to be wasteful and lavish in the expenditure of certain leaders while others are involved in corruption and abuse of power,” he said in the open letter.

Tuan Ibrahim said the promise made by Najib to create more jobs now rang hollow as thousands of graduates are unemployed while at the same time they are forced to service their National Higher Education fund (PTPTN) loans.

He added that past shifts in BN policy to transform the country into an industrial one, the New Economic Policy and also Felda Global Ventures Holdings are evidence of BN failures.

Tuan Ibrahim also asked with the country's debt reaching RM600 billion and with the 1MDB issue, the RM2.6 billion donation affair and other scandals, the question now was whether the present government could lift the country out of its economic quagmire.

The PAS deputy president said as the people wait for the 14th general election to chart a change in politics, they also needed a new map for the development and future of the country.

“Umno and BN as we know has failed to resolve the present situation and if they are allowed to continue, then the country is doomed to failure,” he said.

“The objective is to gather all who love Malaysia,” he added.

In the past, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has called for a 'Save Malaysia' coalition while last week it was reported that former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad had called on all parties to set aside their differences and oust Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Explore technocracy further

Tuan Ibrahim said the people wanted to see the opposition unite and not to attack or weaken one another.

“Hence, a new coalition should be formed. PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang has suggested a government led by technocrats.

“The government by technocrats is a step forward to bring together leaders and scholars to chart a new direction and administration of the country with political parties and politicians being the agents of change,” he said.

He explained the a technocrat-based government was a system where political power was held by professionals from the level of the prime minister and below.

Currently, it is the political party which wins that decides the top two posts in the country but under this proposal, the winning party would decide on the right professional to lead the country.

Tuan Ibrahim said the idea of a technocrat government should be explored further and he urged political leaders to think of the future of the country.

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