SHAH ALAM, 25 Mar: The announcement of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to give 1,000 permits to taxi drivers can be seen as ‘copying’ the policy and programme idea presented by Pakatan Rakyat (PR).
The announcement also confirmed that the PR manifesto policies previously condemned by Umno-BN leaders can actually be implemented.
PKR Strategy Director, Rafizi Ramli said that so far, Umno-BN has failed to announce their own manifesto and are copying PR policy ideas.
Najib is trying to lure people by promising to implement the PR programme should Umno-BN win in the 13th General Elections (GE-13), he said.
“I’m sure taxi drivers throughout the country understand that Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Razak’s announcement is merely a political gimmick to appease their anger.
“A lasting solution on the issue of taxi permits lies in the hands of Pakatan Rakyat, which began to champion this issue first,” Rafizi said in a media statement.
The PR manifesto announced last month mentioned that PR would abolish the taxi permit granted to certain companies that reap profit from the hard work of taxi drivers.
The taxi permits will then be given directly to the taxi drivers in order to produce more taxi entrepreneurs.
Government agencies will also be responsible to train taxi entrepreneurs with customer service and business skills.
“His (Najib) speech reeked of political intimidation when he said that taxi drivers must seal a ‘bai’ah’ (binding promise) to vote for Barisan Nasional if they want to receive personal permits in future,” said Rafizi.
“Therefore, I am not surprised why he (Najib) does not dare to openly debate with Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on policies and economic programmes.”