Joint Statements, Statements & Announcements

People’s Agenda: Reclaim our nation!

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As we move towards the general election, many of us may be feeling disheartened at the state of the nation. We are fed up with corruption, incompetency and poor leadership.

But now is not the time to disengage. More than ever, it is time to fight for the country’s survival.

This general election is important: it will be a chance for ordinary people to push for what is important for the country and what needs to change as we emerge from the Covid pandemic.

But we can’t leave it all to the present crop of politicians to bring about change. Public interest and civil society groups are coming together as part of an initiative to set a people’s agenda for the general election. This will be a platform for reform and change in the country.

Malaysians have come together before and, against all odds, achieved the impossible in 2018. Yes, it did not last, but it showed that the people can spark change. We did it once before, we can do it again.

If Malaysians think along the lines of the critical issues of the day, rather than along religious and racial lines, we could rally together to push for a more accountable and just government and reclaim the nation!

We outline five key points of this People’s Agenda:

1. Uphold the dignity and quality of life of the people

  • Develop a people-friendly economy that creates jobs and dignity for all
  • Ensure adequate public healthcare and affordable housing, accessible quality education, food security, a living wage and universal basic income, and a social security net for the vulnerable
  • Protect the rights of all workers, including gig and contract workers, whether in the formal or informal economy, and ensure employment security

2. Promote equitable, sustainable development and address the climate crisis

  • Ensure that development is sustainable and promotes economic justice
  • Promote renewable energy and sustainable mobility, and protect the environment, especially our forests, hills and water catchment areas
  • Cancel unsustainable mega-projects, stop overdevelopment, and build climate resilience against floods, water shortages and rising sea levels

3. Celebrate diversity and inclusivity

  • Acknowledge, respect and include gender, ethnic and religious diversity in planning, development and policymaking
  • Stop all forms of discrimination on the grounds of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion, age, ability and location
  • Protect the rights of all indigenous communities to their land and livelihoods

4. Save democracy and uphold the rule of law

  • Ensure that all legislation protects human rights, due process and basic freedoms
  • Reform key institutions of governance to ensure checks and balances

5. Fight corruption and cronyism

  • Ensure zero tolerance for corruption and cronyism at all levels
  • Reform the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), make it truly independent, and place it under parliamentary oversight

We call on all Malaysians to vote for candidates and parties who have shown commitment to these five points.

We call on all political parties and candidates to put the people and the nation first. They should work together in an electoral pact based on these five points and avoid multi-cornered fights.

Let’s save our future!

Main sponsors:

  1. Aliran Kesedaran Negara (Aliran)
  2. Pacos Trust, Sabah
  3. Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia (Gerak)
  4. Save Rivers, Sarawak
  5. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
  6. Undi18

Endorsers:

  1. Agora Society Malaysia
  2. All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
  3. Altsean
  4. Association of Toy Libraries Malaysia
  5. Bakas MC
  6. Center for Orang Asli Concerns (COAC)
  7. Centre for Independent Journalism
  8. Cerah
  9. Childline Foundation
  10. G25 Malaysia
  11. Gerakan Belia Se-Punjabi Malaysia (GBSM)
  12. Global Bersih
  13. GOPIO Malaysia
  14. Greenpeace Malaysia
  15. Imagined Malaysia
  16. Independent Council Of Natives (Icon)
  17. Jaringan Ekologi Dan Iklim (Jedi)
  18. Kolektif Iklim
  19. Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH)
  20. Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture (Madpet
  21. Maju
  22. Monsoon Malaysia (MM)
  23. Oriental Hearts and Mind Study Institute (OHMSI)
  24. Penang Institute
  25. Persatuan Cahaya Mata Penggerak Sosial (Champs) Kuching
  26. Persatuan Hak Asasi Manusia (Proham)
  27. Persatuan Kebajikan, Komuniti Dan Dialogue (ACID)
  28. Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan
  29. Persatuan Pemangkin Daya Masyarakat (Rose)
  30. Persatuan Pemangkin Kesedaran Sosial (Pemangkin)
  31. Pertubuhan Muafakat Asas Kemakmuran Malaysia
  32. Pertubuhan Solidaritas
  33. Sabah Women’s Action-Resource Group (Sawo)
  34. Sahabat Wanita
  35. Sarawak Women For Women Society
  36. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)
  37. Sisters in Islam (SIS)
  38. Sustainable Development Network Malaysia (Susden)
  39. Taiping Chinese Culture Society
  40. Taskforce Against Kaiduan Dam (Takad), Sabah
  41. Tenaganita
  42. Tindak Malaysia
  43. Undi Sabah
  44. Wisdom Foundation
  45. Women’s Centre for Change (WCC)
  46. Workers Hub for Change (WH4C)
  47. Zero Waste Sabah

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