What New York S Mamdani Can Teach Malaysia S Madani

---

A New York mayoral candidate’s specific pledges highlight how Malaysia’s politicians often fail to deliver clear promises to voters.
(ALIRAN) – “The name is Mamdani, M-A-M-D-A-N-I.” (This of course has been turned into a meme, complete with dance moves, that has swept across US social media.)
Mamdani. It almost sounds like Madani, that grand vision that Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has touted with its six noble values of sustainability, compassion, respect, innovation, prosperity and trust.
Yet, something is different. While Malaysia’s political leaders give us airy-fairy slogans and pie-in-the-sky visions, Zohran Mamdani has given New Yorkers something else – specific promises on issue that matter most to them. He had no memorable slogans for them like 1New York or Keluarga New York (New York Family).
But when Mamdani schooled Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic mayoral debate, spelling out his name letter by letter, something clicked. Here was a politician who did not just spell out his name, he also spelt out clearly what he planned to do.
And this is where the similarity between Mamdani and Madani ends.
Unlike the messaging of most politicians in Malaysia, Mamdani’s campaign promises were clear to everyone who listened. He focused on several key areas – issues that matter most to ordinary people.
Making life more affordable
He promised to ease the cost-of-living crisis by introducing city-owned grocery shops in each borough. These would buy food wholesale and be exempt from property taxes. They would operate from city-owned land or buildings. Thus they would be able to sell essential items at more affordable prices.
Anwar’s Sumbangan Asas Rahmah – RM50 or RM100 credited to low-income people for essential groceries at selected supermarkets – is a step in the right direction, but not enough.
Tackling the high cost of housing
Mamdani said rent would be frozen for one million people who live in rent-stabilised units. In addition, he proposed to create a social housing development agency. This agency would build 200,000 affordable homes to triple the number of available affordable homes in the coming years.
Meanwhile, housing prices are beyond the reach of lower-income people in many urban centres in Malaysia.
Improving community benefits
Mamdani pledged free childcare for children up to five years old. Tuition fees at certain public colleges would be eliminated. And a new department of community safety would work towards improving public safety and respond to people with mental health crises.
And in Malaysia?
Providing free city buses, funding to improve the underground rail
The idea is to increase public transport ridership which would help mitigate climate change. Mamdani himself uses public transport – the underground and cycling. He also aims to make commutes easier for pedestrians and cyclists.
Show me the money!
But wait a minute. How does New York’s Mamdani aim to fund all this? A small wealth tax for the ultra-rich. That means a 2% city income tax on the wealthy elite, the top 1%, ie those earning over RM1m a year in New York City. This is hardly going to hurt them.
He also plans to raise corporate taxes from 7.25% to 11.5%. This will raise RM21bn ($5bn) for the city’s coffers – much more than the RM10bn per year that the expansion of the sales and service tax (SST) in Malaysia will raise.
This pledge to impose higher taxes on the ultra-rich required real guts. This is something most politicians do not have. Or they could be heavily compromised through their own sources of electoral funding.
See how segments of the big business-friendly US media went after Mamdani while his own Democratic Party hardly gushed in support.
In addition, Mamdani signalled clearly his stance on upholding international law, especially in relation to the genocide in West Asia. This meant his support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign regarding the genocide in Gaza. At the same time, he vowed to increase funding to combat hate speech and antisemitism.
He also pledged to provide protection for migrant workers and legal support for those in distress. This recognises their contribution to the domestic economy.
So, many ordinary people in New York City knew exactly who – and what – they were voting for. It helped that the issues he raised are close to their hearts.
Was Mamdani’s messaging simple and clear to them? Crystal. No wonder he triumphed in the primary against the odds.
His clear messaging will also make it easier for voters to monitor whether his campaign promises are implemented if he wins the election later this year. So he had better deliver!
Contrast that to the campaign promises of Pakatan Harapan ahead of the 2022 general election. Most people knew PH stood on a ‘reformist’, anti-corruption platform. But if pressed further on what exactly it was promising, many – other than those closely following political developments – would be hard-pressed to say what specific promises PH had in mind.
Has the PH-led federal government delivered on its anti-corruption pledge? You tell me. The repeated extensions of Azam Baki’s tenure as chief of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission have hardly boosted public confidence.
Perhaps people vaguely expected a better quality of life. They wanted more affordable food, education and healthcare – and more democratic and accountable institutions. They certainly did not vote for an expansion of sales and service tax (SST) and a range of higher tariffs.
Let’s look at Malaysian civil society’s People’s Agenda formulated ahead of the 2022 general election. This focuses on five key areas.
Uphold the dignity and quality of life of the people
Promote equitable, sustainable development and address the climate crisis
Celebrate diversity and inclusivity
Save democracy and uphold the rule of law
Fight corruption and cronyism
What Mamdani has done is use a somewhat similar framework to zero in on some of these areas close to the people’s heart. He then crafted specific pledges to make life easier and more affordable for ordinary people.
Some in the media have expressed concern that the billionaires in New York might pack up and leave the city.
To allay these concerns, Mamdani has said he wants to improve the quality of life for everyone in the city, including the billionaires. The additional taxes he has in mind will only create a small dent in their enormous wealth.
Compare that to yesterday’s expansion of Malaysia’s SST to cover even more good and services. This is expected to generate RM10bn per year to help finance Malaysia’s federal government budget of RM421bn for 2025. (This is just below New York City’s budget of RM472bn ($112.4bn) for the year. And remember, Mamdani’s wealth tax will generate RM21bn per year.)
Will the extra money generated from the SST expansion in Malaysia be pumped into public healthcare, education, even childcare in Malaysia? Or will much of it be expended on mega-projects or other spending of questionable value? Will some be siphoned away through ‘leakages’ (grrr… that word)?
So RM10bn per year in extra SST money. But Penang is already seeking RM27bn in federal assistance to finance its expensive elevated light rail transit (RM17bn) in Penang and the ecologically sensitive Pan Island Link highway (RM10bn). The ridership along this LRT route is uncertain, especially given that the population in Penang is barely rising and even ageing. Who will have to bear the burden of annual LRT operational deficits given that the Penang government itself is strapped for funds?
So where is this RM27bn plus any future operational deficits ultimately coming from? Did I hear you say “the federal government”? Really? The same federal government already groaning under a RM1.5tn debt (and rising)? What happened to the so-called “PTMP” pledge that all the new transport infrastructure would be financed through sales of reclaimed land and no public money would be involved? Gone with the wind.
Couldn’t we spend only a fraction of that RM27bn on improving the bus system and first-and-last mile connectivity in major cities? What about expanding the ferry service and introducing water taxis. Are these more sustainable projects ‘too cheap’ for the policymakers and contractors? Transport Minister Anthony Loke should recall his own words six years ago when he said that the federal government’s own studies indicated that the LRT may not be the best option for Penang.
You still think you will not have to foot the bill for all these pricey infrastructure and mega-projects? Think again. Look at how much more you are paying for SST now – Every.Single.Day.
Why does the Madani government not have the gumption to raise wealth taxes aimed at the top 1% or even the top 0.5%? Why not move to a more progressive taxation system? What about a Tobin tax of sorts imposed on speculative ’hot’ foreign exchange transactions? Or…dare I say it…a small inheritance or estate tax on the billionaire class?
Instead, we are fed a false debate over which of two regressive tax systems is ‘better’ or more ‘efficient’ – SST or GST (goods and services tax). Regressive meaning everyone, including those who can least afford it, has to shoulder the tax burden.
The choice is ours
So here we are. While New Yorkers get a mayoral candidate promising them tangible benefits – city-owned grocery shops, free childcare, free buses and improved public transport, we get grand visions – and expanded taxes and higher tariffs for the people.
Contrast the approach. Mamdani treats voters like voters like adults and talks to them straight about campaign promises he can deliver. Our politicians tend to talk about grand visions and give us slogans while making vague promises that are difficult to measure.
Meanwhile, at supermarket checkouts, we find our grocery bills climbing. Likewise, at food courts when we look for nasi lemak and char koay teow… gulp, look at those prices inching closer to RM5 and RM10. Oh, and how long do we have to wait for the buses? Where are the bus lanes?
The question is not whether Malaysia needs more politicians like Mamdani. The real question is, are we ready to demand more from our politicians and parties?
Perhaps somewhere out there, if we look hard enough, we already have a Mamdani or better still, a party willing to work for the interests of the ordinary person – rather than the billionaire class, developers or large contractors. If we look hard enough, we will find candidates who can actually spell out not just their names but how they plan to improve our everyday lives.
Look around you. Demand more from your politicians. Press them to tell you their specific policy plans. And then choose wisely.
The views expressed in Aliran’s media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran’s official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran’s official position.
AGENDA RAKYAT – Lima perkara utama
1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Source : Aliran
 
The post What New York’s Mamdani can teach Malaysia’s Madani appeared first on Malaysia Today.

---