'Anwar's government is serious about alleviating economic burden of working poor'

SHAH ALAM - International labour adviser of the Social Protection Contributors' Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM), Callistus Antony D'Angelus has said that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration is on the right track to reform the Malaysian economy.

D'Angelus said that the early administration of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has allegedly wrecked the Malaysian economy by creating an "unholy alliance between politicians and big business" that reduced the common people and workers to the role of supplicants.

"In order for Anwar to fix this, he needs to be given time and space to do so," D'Angelus said.

He pointed out that the majority of supplicants in Malaysia today come from the B40 and M40 populations, who are suffering from the horrendous cost of living and increasing debt.

"Corrupt governments and businesspeople have driven down wages through a myriad of machinations, such as using and abusing foreign labour and dismantling trade union rights," he said.

D'Angelus pointed out that the Anwar administration is serious about alleviating the economic burden of the working poor, and has committed to reviewing the salaries of civil servants and pensioners.

He also addressed the issue of parties using race and religion to gain favor from the rakyat.

"It is unfortunate to see this happening.

"The people should consider whether they want to be represented by a progressive and forward-looking government, or one whose only goal is to sow division on the basis of race and religion," he stressed

D'Angelus said that he believes that Anwar's administration is more likely to be able to consistently prove itself against all the attacks coming from the opposition.

This, he said, would show a reset of Malaysia and its ability to "lay the foundations towards a modern and progressive social, economic and political society."