'Bet on a sure thing, review BR1M'

The BN government has been urged to review policies such as the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) as it did not translate into higher votes for the BN ,especially in urban areas.

Federal Territories Umno delegate Mohd Shafie Abdullah said that in Kuala Lumpur constituencies, it was shown that the "1Malaysia strategy" failed to garner Chinese support.

"We have 1Malaysia this and that, BR1M and KR1M, but support for BN went down, from 140 seats to 133 seats in Parliament...

"I suggest that we review this strategy. We can practise 1Malaysia, but we must have a carrot and a stick... so it has an impact on our vote in the 14th general election, " Shafie said when debating the president's policy speech at the Umno general assembly yesterday.

Instead of splashing money to attract non-Malay voters, he said, Umno should "bet on a sure thing", that is Malay votes, in the 14th polls which will be the "father of all battles".

On a separate matter, Shafie ticked off the government for its announcement on electricity tariff hikes on the same day that Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) announced its profits.

"The timing is problematic...how are we going to explain to the people? They say TNB already has high profits and is squeezing the people for more. This will hurt us."

Shafie also urged the government to review the assessment rate hike for KL properties and to apply it only to commercial buildings.

He said that this is because 56 percent of buildings in the capital city are commercial properties and the sum raised would be sufficient to meet City Hall's expenses.

Asked for his response to the proposal on the sidelines of the debates, Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor said he would issue a press statement on the matter later.