Penang BN vows to double Pakatan goodies

The Penang BN has vowed to double the present state government cash handouts to senior citizens should the coalition capture the state, said state BN chief Teng Chang Yeow.

"We will keep these policies and will double it," Teng said when asked if a BN administration will continue the policy initiated by the Lim Guan Eng administration.

Teng (left) was speaking at a press conference after launching the Penang BN manifesto before a large crowd at the Tabung Haji headquarters.

The 19 point manifesto, Teng said, is a 'Aku Janji (promise)' which BN will implement if it forms the government in Penang after the May 5 polls.

The cash award policy, introduced in 2009 by the Pakatan administration, is very popular among senior citizens aged 60 and above, despite the small amount.

The other popular policy was the one off RM1,000 handout to the next-of-kin of deceased parents.

Many had praised the policy because it was not timed to coincide with a general election.

Attack best form of defence
Teng was also asked why the issue of governance was not mentioned in the manifesto.

akatan's state manifesto has mentioned the issue of good governance via the CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) policy where the state will maintain its open tender system in all business dealings.

Pakatan's manifesto also stated that its state executive councillors and assemblymen will declare their assets and that their families will be prohibited from doing business with the government.

"It is already mentioned in the BN national manifesto launched by Prime Minister Najib Razak two weeks ago," was Teng's curt reply.

On the public declaration of assets, Teng shot back, "We will also declare assets of our next of kin, our wives'."

On the difference between the BN and Pakatan manifestos, Teng said latter does not have a proper framework on the social and economic aspects.

Accompanying him at the press conference were former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, state Umno head Zainal Abidin Osman, state Peoples Progressive Party information chief M Loga Balan and state MCA liaison chief Ng Yen Yen.