PUTRAJAYA has established a permanent secretariat to coordinate government policies based on the manifestos of all parties in the ruling coalition, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said. 

The secretariat’s role is to find common ground in the manifestos of the four coalitions and a political party that had formed the unity government after the 15th general election, he said. 

“The parties that support the unity government have their respective party manifestos. It has been agreed by the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) that common electoral pledges must be taken from the manifestos,” he said in an interview with NR Channel TV on Facebook, last night. 

The five coalitions and political parties forming the government are Pakatan Harapan, Barisan Nasional (BN), Gabungan Parti Sarawak, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah and Warisan.

Zahid mentioned the cost of living issue as an example of a point of commonality in the manifestos of all ruling parties.

He also said that there were at least 20 similar points in the manifestos of every party in the government.

“Only the sentences are different but they have the same goal.

“So, that is why a permanent secretariat is created to coordinate between the parties in the unity government,” he said.

Zahid, who is also BN chairman, believes that the approach taken by Anwar Ibrahim’s administration will further enhance the compatibility of cooperation between political parties in the government and reduce harmful politicking. – December 28, 2022.