wHY ONLY "deCLARE" NOW???

OUTGOING president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting yesterday called for a wide range of reforms in the government and Barisan Nasional.

Unless there were changes, there was no more future for the coalition, he said in an hour-long speech that was seen as his most hard-hitting and frank.

"We cannot rely on fire- fighting solutions," he told the delegates at the party's 55th annual general assembly at Wisma MCA. "We need to implement structural reforms in the government to ensure that we are able to rectify problems quickly and efficiently."

He touched on seven core issues which contributed to BN losing the support of the Chinese electorate and that of the other communities in the March 8 general election.

Corruption and mismanagement of funds among public officials and politicians were among the main problems the people faced.

"The government must take action regardless of who that person is, be it a political leader or man on the street. If he is corrupt, arrest him and throw him in jail,"

For example, Ong said it usually cost the government RM20 million to build a school. "But if you give that amount directly to the school's board of governors, they can build two schools. "This is the type of corruption and waste of public funds that we must put an end to." Ong said the approval of government contracts and projects should no longer be awarded by direct negotiation, especially to companies with no track record. Another issue were the inconsistencies between the right to freedom of religion and the acknowledgement of that right by the authorities.

"Our top leaders have given assurance after assurance that we are free to practise our own religion.

"But when it comes to issues like conversion, inter-marriages and land allocation for places of worship, the authorities act like we have no rights at all."

He also spoke of racial bias in the implementation of government procurement and services policies.

He said many non-Bumiputera businessmen and developers had been shunned by ministries, government departments and agencies.

"Their attempts at submitting tenders and applying for permits, licences and loans were rejected numerous times with no particular reason except that it was in compliance with the New Economic Policy.

"Some businessmen enter into joint ventures with foreign investors, which run successfully for a few years and then suddenly they are told verbally that they must provide for 30 per cent Bumiputera equity."

- Arrogant politicians who think they are superior, who make racial statements and don't think twice about threatening the other races with words and deeds;

- The lack of emphasis in building and supporting vernacular schools, be it Chinese, Tamil or missionary schools.

"The MCA does not want to continue begging for funds and donations any more.

"The government should institutionalise the building and management of these schools.

"We can't wait for the people to complain and start talking bad about MCA and MIC, only for us to go to the cabinet and then you timbang timbang (weigh the options)."