More goodies from BN manifesto

Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak promised all these carrots if BN is voted back to power.

BUKIT JALIL: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak tonight unveiled the Barisan Nasional manifesto – and more goodies spilled out of his bag.

Najib, who is BN chairman, promised a slew of these goodies to the people should BN be voted back to power.

Addressing a capacity crowd of 50,000 at the Bukit Jalil Indoor Stadium here, Najib promised that he would increase Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) from the existing RM500 to RM1,200 to each household if voted back to power.

Also present were Cabinet ministers, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and former MIC president, S Samy Vellu.

Najib also promised a cash aid of RM600 to unmarried Malaysians.

“And I will ensure BR1M aid is given yearly,” Najib said, to thunderous applause.

On top of that, he also promised to increase Bantuan Buku 1Malaysia to school students from the existing RM150 to RM300 annually.

He also took a leaf from the Pakatan Rakyat’s manifesto launched on Feb 25: he announced that the BN government would also embark on a Pan Borneo highway project and reduce car prices in the next five years.

While Pakatan said it would build the highway linking Kuching, Kota Kinabalu and Kudat, Najib had other ideas in mind.

In his Pan Borneo Highway project, Najib plans to link the 2,300km highway from Sematan to Serudung, Sarawak.

He also promised to add more exits along the North-South Expressway.

“We will also extend the East Coast Highway from Kuala Krai-Kota Baru to Gambang, Segamat,” said Najib.

On reducing car prices, he promised to reduce car prices by between 20 and 30% in the next five years.

Pakatan, however, has promised to abolish the excise duty gradually to allow more people to own cars.

Among other promises in the BN manifesto are:

• Place non-Muslim affairs under the purview of a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department.

• Increase non-Bumiputera participation in the civil service and government-linked companies (GLC).

• Reduce Internet broadband subsripction fee by 20%.

• Give tax exemptions to those setting up childcare centres and early childhood progamme centres.

• Build one million affordable houses, with 500,000 being built under the 1Malaysia People Housing Programme (PR1MA).

• Ensure houses built under PR1MA are priced at least 20% lower than the market value.

• Abolishing stamp duties for first-time house buyers who purchase a residence worth less than RM400,000.

• Expand bus, monorail and integrated taxi services in towns and cities.

• Increase the number of individual taxi permit holders.

• Make English a must pass paper for SPM examination.

• Convert Tamil schools to fully aided facilities if requested by the school administration.

• Free Internet service at public higher learning institutions.

‘Don’t gamble future

Najib, who is also Umno president, reminded voters not to gamble their future by experimenting with a new government.

“We need to protect what we have achieved so far. For that, we need a strong government so that we could continue with the National Transformation Agenda and achieve developed nation status by 2020,” he said.

He also said that a strong government is needed to ensure continuity and stability enjoyed by all Malaysians.

“The BN government practises moderation. We build bridges with those of different racial and religious backgrounds.

“And we will never allow religion to be exploited just for political mileage,” said Najib.