PAKATAN Harapan should reveal its public policies on “untouchable” issues, such as affirmative action, ahead of the 14th general election, Universiti Malaya’s Professor Dr Edmund Terence Gomez said.

Gomez, who specialises in political economy, said voters want to know what the opposition’s response is to such matters.

“What is their stand on affirmative action and state intervention. What is the opposition’s alternative to this model? They said it’s in their new manifesto but why are they taking so long to come up with it?” he said at a forum titled GE14: The polls, the money, the stakes in Petaling Jaya last night. 

Both PH and the ruling Barisan Nasional appear afraid to make a stand and hold debate on fundamental policies, such as affirmative action, which Malaysia has practised since 1971 to eradicate poverty and to help Bumiputeras gain a stronger footing in the economy, he said.

Called the New Economic Policy, it has been criticised over the years and Gomez said both the government and opposition are afraid of turning away rural voters if changes are made to it.

The policy has been in effect for more than 40 years but what rural people needed is major structural change to improve their access to education and quality of life, he said.

“When I went to Kedah, Terengganu and Kelantan in 2013, I asked the people what are their problems and what are the public policies that will inspire them.

“They said they wanted good education for their children. They want good infrastructure so that they can increase productivity, good water supply and transportation services. 

“(But) rural infrastructure development (in these states) are still poor,” Gomez said, adding that although Putrajaya provided cash aid through its 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) programme, it was merely a handout.

Rural voters also tend to be more impacted by public policies compared with urban voters, he said.

“Regardless of what happens, the opposition is quite safe (in urban areas).”

PH, however, is hoping to wrest rural areas and the Malay vote with newer allies Bersatu and Amanah, which are Umno and PAS splinter parties, respectively. – February 9, 2018.