By Robin Augustin, Free Malaysia Today (13 August 2022)
PETALING JAYA: Many of Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s proposals for a more inclusive administration are “ripped off” from Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto, says one of the document’s authors.
“It’s a great irony. This is a man who betrayed PH and the voters, disassociated himself from us and our ideals through the Sheraton Move,” said PKR’s Wong Chen.
“And just over a year later, he is taking PH’s ideas in a desperate bid to remain in power.”
PH’s manifesto for the 14th general election included setting limits for the prime minister’s term, lowering the voting age to 18 and granting the opposition leader with provisions and the status of a federal minister.
In his televised address today, Muhyiddin proposed a number of reforms should he win September’s confidence vote.
These included term limits for prime ministers, resources for the opposition leader equivalent to those of a senior Cabinet minister and immediately lowering the voting age to 18 without the implementation of an automatic voter registration.
Though Muhyiddin’s administration has said it is agreeable to lowering the voting age, its implementation has been delayed due to many issues.
Wong Chen said he had a “counter-proposal” for Muhyiddin if he was so determined to see reforms in the country.
“Since he has lost majority support, he can instead choose to be the opposition and support the new Cabinet to pass these reforms,” said the Subang MP.
“Since these are our ideas, we will have the political will to implement them.”