BN’s bag of bull manifesto

In its manifesto, BN has declared that eradicating graft has been the government's highest priority – this by far is the worst joke coming from BN.

COMMENT

When it comes to hoodwinking the rakyat, no one does it better than Barisan Nasional, as evident from the hogwash revealed through the coalition’s 13th general election manifesto.

Not only does BN had the audacity to continue to lie to the people, its irresponsibility in claiming credit for things done is clear hint that the party has no intention of doing anything by the book.

BN’s manifesto, launched on April 7, is supposedly THE word given by the ruling party of action and policies that would be executed should it win the 2013 general election.

The BN manifesto promises improvement in just about every area, be it public transport, housing, education, easing the cost of living, making health services accessible, enhancing security and public safety, fighting corruption, promoting Islam, religious freedom and harmony and strengthening women’s participation.

However, going by BN’s refusal to deal with the above issues head-on during its five-year tenure post-2008, there is no assurance that the promises made in its “administration plan” are for real.

Take, for example, the issue of enhancing public transport. Tearing down buildings to make way for more train stations is not going to solve the problem until and unless the country’s public transport operators start paying respect to time and swear upon punctuality.

Ask any commuter of the Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) train services to rate the service provided and the reply will only be a sigh for KTM is notoriously lousy when it comes to punctuality.

Is the BN government not aware of the unsatisfactory service given by KTM to the rakyat? If it is, why then was there no improvement from 2008 until the country went into election mode?

Likewise, claims by BN that health services will be accessible to the rakyat cannot be taken at face value. Merely setting up the Klinik 1Malaysia is not good enough: are the doctors and nurses being overworked and underpaid or are they pleased to serve the rakyat?

BN manifesto lacks vision

Also, do the natives in rural areas and those living in the interiors of Sarawak have access to such clinics?

By the way, have the methadone replacement and needle exchange programmes really halved new cases of HIV since 2005?

Looks like the shameful defeat in the 2008 general election has not taught BN any lesson: had it done so, the party would have treaded cautiously on the issue of religious freedom as guaranteed under Article 11 of the Federal Constitution.

Time has over and over proven that BN has never bothered extending respect to the other races, as evident from the fact that the 13th general election is slated on a Sunday, a day when Christians congregate in churches.

In its manifesto, BN displays no vision of promoting racial tolerance between Malaysians of diverse faiths. Instead, the concern is to continue to uphold Islam as the religion of the Federation and ensure that the country’s identity as a Muslim nation remains unchallenged.

While the Federal Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, has this aspect truly been upheld as far as BN is concerned?

The raids on events organised by the non-Malays and the proselytisation accusations hurled at them are no reflection of a government that upholds the tenets of the constitution.

The verbal abuses and threats made by the Malays against the non-Malays of this country who dare question Article 153 of the Federal Constitution which assures Malay rights and privileges have never worried the ruling BN goverment.

The condemnations and threats to burn the Malay bibles that used the word “Allah” too saw no reaction from the BN government led by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

BN’s respect for women yet to come

BN in backing up its 13th general election manifesto says it has thus far recognised religious celebrations as national events and holidays: if it is indeed so, why then the reluctance to declare the Hindu festival of Thaipusam a national holiday, unlike at present where only certain states gazette it as a public holiday?

In its manifesto, too, BN claims it will work at eradicating sexual harassment and provide women a more secure sense of being.

Not only that, should BN return to power in the 13th general election, it will promote gender equality to maximise the potential of Malaysians in all fields, gender regardless.

On both accounts, BN has failed its women voters: in the case of sexual harassment, nothing was done by BN when the Labour Department director-general ridiculed the need for a Sexual Harassment Act.

It was also BN that remained mute when its politicians including those holding ministerial posts were implicated in sexual harassment and rape cases.

Can Najib tell the rakyat why BN refused to punish these perpetrators and why nothing was done to put an end to the rapes involving the Penan women and girls in Sarawak?

The lust for power is synonymous with BN and this is evident from the about-turn made by the party in declaring that it will in the next five years focus on promoting gender equality to tap the potential of Malaysians across the board. Whatever happened to BN’s intensive witch-hunt against the LGBT (lesbians, gays, biseuxals and transgenders) communities post-Seksualiti Merdeka festival in 2011?

In its 13th general election manifesto, is BN giving its word that it will finally give the marginalised LGBT communties the much deserved respect by acknowedging their capabilities?

Ending corruption – is BN joking?

In its manifesto, BN has declared that eradicating graft has been the government’s highest priority – this by far is the worst joke coming from BN.

From Najib to the head of states, the rakyat is aware of their “penchant” for “under the table” money.

The Scorpene submarines purchase and the corruption involving senior Umno leaders to the “never say no to graft” attitude of Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud to the richness enjoyed by the BN politicians: can BN honestly say it is fighting corruption that has long taken root in this country?

The truth is BN enjoys corruption and has no intention of putting an end to it.

The 13th general election manifesto with all its claims is nothing more than BN’s modus operandi of making a fool of the rakyat, of promising them a good life which the party has no desire of making it happen.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.