On 11 February 2026, Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) convened the official Press Conference for Manifesto Rakyat 2.0 (MR 2.0) at Tamil Foundation, Petaling Jaya. The event signalled the launch of a nationwide initiative to gather public inputs and evaluate the implementation of the Madani Government’s manifesto commitments.
The programme was moderated by Mr Gunasegaran Kandaswamy of the Association for Advocacy and Community Empowerment (ACE), a GBM Member Organisation. He welcomed representatives from member organisations, NGO partners, and members of the media, including Bernama, UTV, Sin Chew Daily, Oriental Media, Entamizh Media, Malaysia Kalai Ulagam, Naan Oru Malaysian, Makkal Osai, and IKRAM Media.
Ir. Stanley Yong, Chairman of GBM, delivered the welcoming address, reaffirming the coalition’s commitment to strengthening participatory democracy. Dr Lim Chee Han, Programme Coordinator of MR 2.0, presented a comprehensive overview of the project, reflecting on the impact of Manifesto Rakyat 1.0 and outlining key improvements in outreach, engagement, and accountability mechanisms in this second phase.
The civil society sharing session reflected the multi-pillared approach of MR 2.0:
Firstly, Mr Faizal Aziz, Chairman of BERSIH, spoke under the “People’s Institution” pillar, addressing electoral reform and the independence of the Election Commission. Then, Ms Aisyah Delaila from Family Frontiers addressed issues under “People’s Rights.” Followed by Dr Chitra Adiyodi (EWRF) highlighted the importance of quality education, capable educators, and systematic programme evaluation under “People’s Wellbeing.” Later, Mr Nathan, Secretary of GBM, emphasised the need for measurable outcomes in assessing government performance and referenced GBM’s July 2025 public forum, “Rant or Rave: 30 Months of Madani Government’s Performance,” as an example of inclusive civic engagement. Lastly, Mr Muhammad Sha’ani bin Abdullah, Chairman of SUSDEN Malaysia, concluded with reflections on implementation gaps in environmental sustainability, including fuel reduction, waste management, and forest conservation.
The press conference concluded with an interactive Q&A session, followed by media interviews and networking.
Manifesto Rakyat 2.0 will proceed with nationwide consultations, surveys, town halls, and multilingual publication of its final policy document reinforcing the collective aspiration to translate public dialogue into meaningful reform.