TEAM KLASSEN UNVEILS ITS MANIFESTO

From left to right: Ansari, Dr Chong, Klassen and Quek posing at the press conference.

EDUCATIONAL reward and assistance, bereavement assistance, employment aid and an emergency Hotline for party members are among the things promised by the team led by controversial Sabah blogger, Ronnie Klassen in their ambitious manifesto for the upcoming Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) election scheduled on 18 September, nationwide.

Klassen who is presently the Sabah PKR Director of Communications has teamed up with illegal immigrants activist, Dr Chong Eng Leong and former Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) People Development Leader (PKR) for Luyang, Benny Quek, in the contest for the Kota Kinabalu division, against its incumbent Christina Liew.

Dr Chong is going for the deputy chairman post while Quek is aiming for the vice chairman post.

“Upon assuming office, we shall provide educational reward of RM200 to members children who perform well in their examination. This reward will be given to the top two students in UPSR, SRP, SPM and STPM exams. For members who are unable to provide school aids for their children due to financial constraints, a special fund will be allocated to assist them.

“We will also provide bereavement assistance amounting to RM200 to our members whose immediate family members have passed away. A special committee will be form to assist members in obtaining jobs for those who are unable to, within Sabah. And we will set up a 24-hour Hotline for the members to call in the event of an emergency,” Klassen revealed.
Klassen who is also Sabah PKR Director of Communications told the reporters this during a news conference held at the City Mall shopping complex in Luyang here, today. Also present at the occasion to lend moral support to the group was Hj Ansari Abdullah, PKR supreme council member cum PKR Tuaran chief.

The other agendas contained in the 8-point manifesto are, the publication of a newsletter to keep the members abreast on the affairs of the division; the setting up of its PKR Kota Kinabalu division live Internet TV and radio to broadcast its activities and programs as well as to highlight issues affecting the State; to provide a Short-Messaging Service (SMS) blast to constantly keep its members in the loop.

“We shall also activate all dormant rantings (branches) and form new rantings throughout Kota Kinabalu. Ranting chiefs will be appointed and given the mandate to ensure that the members problems are brought to the attention of the division. Rantings will be provided adequate assistance to ensure that the members activities are carried out without any hitches,” he added.

He asserted that all these are well-thought-out strategies aimed chiefly to elevate PKR Kota Kinabalu into a dynamic political setup to better serve and care for its members and supporters.

“Kota Kinabalu division must re-emerge to ignite the spirit of comradeship. It needs to re-invent, reposition, rejuvenate and repackage into a dynamic force that members and the people of Kota Kinabalu will be proud of,” he stressed.

He also opined that being located in the State capital, Kota Kinabalu division should assume the role of a “big brother” to all the PKR divisions in Sabah.

“The Kota Kinabalu division needs to rise above and a new array of live must be injected. The people want change and change we shall, we must and we will. While I thank Christina Liew for her service over the last 10 years, the time has come for the members in Kota Kinabalu to move forward with conviction and support a new team that can ensure stability and the prospect of recouping lost time.

“The key word here is working as a team. The strength of the party is my ultimate concern and agenda and I will not compromise to ensure that the members of the party will never be short changed. We in the new team will work for and with the people,” he vowed.

Klassen also briefly introduced his two running mates, Dr Chong and Quek.

He noted that Dr Chong who is a renowned activist for the illegal immigrants issue in Sabah currently heads Sabah PKR National Integration Bureau, while Quek is a seasoned politician with vast experiences in community service. He is currently also Sabah PKR Ex-Officio member.

An outspoken activist, Klassen is well-known for his controversial blog, “Put For Change” which constantly highlighted political and current issues affecting Sabah and Malaysia as a whole. He also created substantial following when he initiated a world-wide signature campaign against the ban on the use of the word Allah by the relevant authorities.
He is also the founder of the Facebook Pakatan Friends Group.