Govt panel to pick and fulfil election pledges by BN and PH, says Rafizi

KUALA LUMPUR: Certain pledges in Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto will be implemented by the government, says Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli (pic).

He said efforts are ongoing to determine which pledges were feasible for implementation.

“At Cabinet level, there is already a committee working to choose and combine specific programmes from each coalition's manifesto,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby after the Dewan Rakyat session on Tuesday (Dec 20).

Rafizi said the committee was set up by Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Zuki Ali.

“For now, it is not a committee of political parties. It is a government committee,” he added.

Rafizi also said it was important to understand the concept and detail of the coalition agreement between Barisan and Pakatan.

“We are a coalition of parties with different backgrounds and different policies, each with our own manifesto going into GE15.

“Now that we are in government, (we have) to quickly combine the manifestos ... there are time constraints," he said.

Rafizi said negotiations on implementing the pledges will be guided by the 18 commitments under Clause 2 of the agreement signed by party leaders of the unity government on Friday (Dec 16).

“I think the (vetting) process is ongoing. It’s only the second Cabinet meeting. So far, the decision to streamline (manifestos) is ongoing,” he added.

Rafizi also said it was premature to say which pledges would be picked by the government.

Asked if the new government would give equal funding to all MPs, Rafizi said it was a question for the Finance Minister.

“Ministers only answer what has been discussed collectively or what is under their purview. We have not crossed that bridge of discussion," he said.

Anwar leads the unity government with 81 seats; Barisan has 30 seats, Gabungan Parti Sarawak 23, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah six and Warisan three. Parti Bangsa Malaysia, Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Malaysia and Muda have one representative each, and two Independents have also joined.

Anwar said the agreement was a commitment to support a stable government that would be able to finish its five-year term.

Among the terms are that each party must support the Prime Minister in motions related to confidence, supply or procedure that could affect the legitimacy of the Federal Government.

It also states that each party must ensure that its MPs give their vote and any lawmaker who fails to do so will be in violation of his responsibility to the party and must vacate his seat.