VOTERS must ask how the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto was designed, and why it took them one month after the dissolution of Parliament to reveal their manifesto.
At best, it is only an ad hoc manifesto which clearly shows that BN was not serious and unprepared, especially with the 15th General Election (GE15) forced upon them by UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Yesterday (Nov 7), it was obvious during Zahid’s launch of the BN election manifesto that there was no mention of caretaker prime minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to be the next PM if BN wins the general election.
BN’s manifesto makes all sorts of empty promises that – in the first place – if it had the political will to carry out, it would have implemented them in the last 65 years that the coalition was in power.
For examples, freebies such as free early education and day care, 10% internet coverage in all schools, no text-book education system with laptops supplied, B40 students to receive free higher education, institutions of higher learning to offer hybrid learning and students undergoing internship will be paid for their services could have been implemented in the past.
Source of funding
Where would the money come from, especially when the country’s economy is already stalled after the change of government for the third time in less than five years?
This general election is apparently to save certain individuals in BN from their criminal court cases instead of having the people’s interests on their minds.
So far, only PH has a manifesto that has been thought through carefully by a team of professionals with the key focus on reviving the country’s economy and addressing the high cost of living and inflation.
Ismail Sabri had on Oct 30 urged voters not to be “confused by the various promises of the opposition parties in the manifesto that they will announce ahead of the GE15”. But it clearly shows that only a week later, BN’s very own manifesto was put together to fish for votes.
I urge all voters to come out in full force on Nov 19 to vote for PH and give PH chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim a chance to prove himself after 25 years in the waiting list.
Let this year be the jubilee year for Anwar and see if he – together with the PH team – would be able to deliver the coalition’s promises given a full term. – Nov 8, 2022
Lim Lip Eng is the MP for Kepong and a committee member of DAP’s central executive committee 2022-2025.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
