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, with this general election forced upon them by UMNO president, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Yesterday, it was obvious during Ahmad Zahid’s launch of the BN election manifesto that there was no mention that the caretaker Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob would be the next Prime Minister 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 it was in power. For examples, freebies such as free early education and day care, 100 percent 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.
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 and it is focused 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 15th General Election,” it clearly shows that only a week later, BN’s 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 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 its promises given a full term.