Chua: Islam and Democracy can co-exist
to steer success
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| Chua delivering his ceramah backed by local PR leaders. |
JOHOR
BARU (Oct 13, 2012):
Turkey’s current success shows Islam and Democracy can co-exist to help steer a
nation towards
positive socio-economic progress.
“The
brave Turkish people went for change with Tayyip
Erdogan in 2003 and today, about 10 years after, Turkey registered a 300%
economic growth.
“Turkey even settled its remaining
EUR1 billion debt with the International Monetary Fund last April,” Johor PKR (People’s Justice
Party) chairman Chua Jui Meng said in a ceramah
(political rally) tonight.
Chua added: “Tayyip Erdogan formed
his Justice and Development Party (AK Parti) in 2001 while in prison. Tayyip
went on to implement numerous people-centric reforms, including free education
for all in his country.
“Now, this is a country without oil
and gas. Did it go bankrupt?
“And the Barisan Nasional (BN)-Umno
federal government was quick to say Malaysia will go bankrupt under Pakatan
Rakyat (PR)’s free education policy should it get the mandate from the people
to govern.
Johor Baru PKR branch chairman and lawyer Tan Poh Lai was
among the speakers. She is also Johor PKR treasurer and Johor PKR Wanita deputy
chairman.
“It is BN-Umno’s plundering of the
nation’s wealth and unabated corruption to enrich Umno cronies and elites that
will bankrupt Malaysia.”
He said should PR be given the
mandate to administer Putrajaya after the next general election, Anwar as prime
minister would emulate Turkey by implementing similar people-centric policies
to help lift Malaysia’s sagging economic fortunes.
“Anwar has made this very clear to
all Malaysians when, announcing PR’s shadow Budget 2013, by saying that all
race-based policies must go to fast track socio-economic growth,” Chua said in
the ceramah in Kampung Melayu Majide.
Chua, who is also PKR
vice-president, spoke at the ceramah
organised in conjunction with the opening of the Kampung Melayu Majide PKR branch
office.
From
left are A.Hamid Awang, Chua, Zaleha Mohamed and Atan Awang.
“I was very touched by the
invitation to dine at the residence of Pak Hamid and his wife Zaleha in this kampung (village).
“Pak Hamid is an ex-serviceman in
his 80s and his homemaker wife is in her 70s.
“Both said they were honoured to
have me dine in their run down wooden house. I said it is not the house, it is
the heart, health and peace of mind that matter.
“Pak Hamid went for optional
retirement more than 30 years ago and his pension was RM150. Today, it is
RM350. Is that enough for the couple’s survival?
“Luckily for Pak Hamid and his wife,
they have two well educated and successful son and daughter to help them out,”
Chua said.
“Malaysia is a country blessed with
rich natural resources, including oil and gas. After 55 years of BN-Umno rule,
why must there be so many Pak Hamids living in abject poverty.
“Something is very wrong with
BN-Umno’s economic policies which have run up a federal debt of RM800 billion,
according to Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Muhkriz Mahathir.
“We are on the verge of becoming a bankrupt
nation, and the cure for the people’s economic woes is to change. Give BN-Umno
the boot,” he added.
Kampung Melayu Majide villagers listening attentively to Chua’s ceramah.
Listening
to Chua’s ceramah outside the new Kampung Melayu Majide PKR branch office.
