SHAH ALAM - Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) rates the Madani government A for rhetorics and D for economic policies and development strategy for its second anniversary.
PSM chairman Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj said while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made commendable strides in certain areas like foreign policy, the latter's administration’s economic direction left much to be desired.
"For us, I think his position on Palestine is one area where we strongly agree. There’s a genocide taking place there and Anwar has been consistent in supporting Palestine.
"For that, we give him high marks — a B+," he said when met at the Karangkraf Complex, here, today.
However, Jeyakumar said Anwar’s economic policies continued to follow the same trajectory as previous administrations, heavily reliant on foreign direct investment (FDI) and free trade agreements like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and potential agreements with the European Union.
"FDI ties us into a global chain where we get exploited. For instance, workers in Bayan Lepas chip-producing factories earn only about one-sixth or one-eighth of what similar workers in America earn.
"The government's approach to FDI means keeping wages low to stay competitive with countries like Thailand.
"This, unfortunately, limits the government’s capacity to control the economy," he said.
Jeyakumar expressed concern that the government’s continued reliance on FDI and trade agreements hampered efforts to improve wages and workers’ rights.
He, therefore, graded the Madani government a D for economic policy and development.
"When it comes to economic development, we believe the government needs to take a different direction," he added.
Meanwhile, PSM deputy chairman S. Arutchelvan echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the gap between Anwar’s rhetoric and his administration’s actions.
"Firstly, expectations for Anwar were very high, no doubt about it. He talks about the ‘Mahakaya’ but in practice, the policies don’t match," he said.
He criticised the government’s taxation policies and its decision to allow private wings in public hospitals, which he argued disproportionately benefitted the wealthy.
PSM also pointed to the lack of a comprehensive plan for poverty eradication as a significant shortfall.
Arutchelvan highlighted the absence of structural reforms such as raising the minimum wage or implementing a robust pension scheme for the elderly.
"Instead of addressing these bigger issues, the government is relying on handouts like increasing cash assistance by RM100. These measures are not accessible to everyone and fail to solve systemic problems," he said.
He also called for attention to the plight of farmers in Anwar’s own constituency, who faced eviction threats, which undermined food security.
"If he cannot protect farmers in his own constituency, how can he claim to champion food security nationwide?," he added.
PSM also urged the government to focus on long-term solutions to systemic issues.
He said if Anwar wants to get a real distinction, an A, he needs to implement policies that address the root causes of poverty, wage stagnation and food insecurity.