Gerakan proposes automatic tax exemption for donations to all non-profit education institutions in the party’s memorandum on the 10th Malaysia Plan (the 10th MP) to the government.

Gerakan Vice-President and Head of Central Economic Bureau Datuk Mah Siew Keong said the party’s memorandum contains forward-looking, radical and inclusive recommendations and suggestions from Gerakan for the 10th MP after having extensive consultation with various bodies and experts.

The party’s memorandum focuses on achieving the following objectives for Malaysia under the 10th MP:

(A) Enhancing Talent and Human Capital Development;
(B) Generating Robust and Sustainable Growth ;
© Safeguarding Social Justice and Inclusiveness;
(D) Sustaining Ecological Balance and Quality of life; and,
(E) Advocating Good Governance & Integrity.

The said proposal of automatic tax exemption for non-profit education and research institutions to strengthen the capacity (funds, infrastructure and specialization) is one of the recommendations under the objective of enhancing talent and human capital development.

“This will be an important touch point which will not cost the government any additional expenditure. At the same time, it will also encourage different communities to donate to their respective schools or education institutions, as a fine tradition to be promoted,” Mah said.

Apart from that, Gerakan also recommends government to consider recognizing Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) for the purpose of admission into public universities and teaching colleges as part of the overall national strategy to halt brain drain phenomenon.

Another notable Gerakan’s proposal for education under the 10th MP is that to give meaning to free education for all, Gerakan suggests the government to absorb all partially aided schools’ expenditure for maintenance and repairs as part of operating expenditure (OpEx). This move would benefit SRJK, SRJK, mission schools as well as Sekolah Agama Rakyat.

“To generate robust and sustainable growth, amongst others, Gerakan proposes cutting red tape by introducing a “one-in, one-out” rule whereby no new regulations is to be brought in without other regulation being cut by a great amount, promoting local SMEs procurement by introducing an aspiration that at least 30% of government contracts should be awarded to local SMEs via open tender, calling for open and transparent tender for all government projects etc,” said Mah.

On safeguarding social justice and inclusiveness, Gerakan asserts that a specific strategy based on merits and need must be formed to ensure access to quality educational and employment opportunities for the 30% lowest household income-earners.

Gerakan also suggests providing incentives to encourage the private sector as well as NGOs, acting as part of social responsibility, to play a more pro-active role to complement the Government’s overall effort to stem the poverty problem, especially in the most deprived areas.

Gerakan’s proposals on sustaining ecological balance and quality of life, includes promoting the radical of concept GWB (General Well-Being) and not the mere growth of GDP as a perquisite for a more holistic and ideal development.

“For example, the government can consider imposing a presumption in favour of sustainable development in the planning system,” Mah continued.

To get the local community more involved in combating crime, the party proposes the police to publish detailed local crime data statistics every month as well as requiring the police to hold regular “beat meetings” so that the public can hold the police accountable.

“To promote good governance and integrity, Gerakan suggests having full online disclosures of all government spending and contracts and creating a “right to data” so that certain government-held data can be requested and used by the public,” Mah said.

Gerakan advocates opening up civil service recruitment to all Malaysians in line with the spirit of 1Malaysia by publishing job vacancies online in order to make civil service a 1Malaysia civil service.

“In addition to the above, this memorandum also incorporates a special section on proposals specifically on Sabah submitted by Gerakan Sabah, which, amongst others, calls for the removal of the Cabotage Policy, adoption of the Open Sky Policy, formulation of a workable and practical policy on foreign workers etc,” Mah added.