PH’s manifesto is poisoned honey, says Sabah DCM

Many promises in their manifesto are populist, only to please the people but not implementable, says Yahya Hussin.

Yahya Hussin (centre) at an event to launch a project to lay artificial reefs off Putatan, Sabah.

PUTATAN: Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Yahya Hussin has described the Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) manifesto for the 14th general election (GE14) as “poisoned honey” and warned the people not to be duped into giving them their support.

Speaking to reporters during an event here today, Yahya said the opposition’s manifesto was illogical and most of the promises in it could not be implemented.

“For example, abolishing the GST (goods and services tax) is an attempt to confuse the people because it provides a major income for the nation to manage the country and return benefits to the people,” he said.

“Many promises in their manifesto are populist – to please the people but they’re not implementable. It’s like offering poisoned honey.”

Yahya, who is also Putatan assemblyman, said the Barisan Nasional (BN) has manifestos at the federal and state as well as the parliamentary and state constituency levels.

“Each level has its own manifesto which doesn’t promise something impossible to achieve,” he said.

“I think the people are now smarter and can judge for themselves.”

Yahya said BN’s promises in the 2013 election manifesto were already fulfilled, such as clean water supply in rural areas, infrastructure such as the Pan Borneo Highway and many more which are being and will be carried out.

“For example, in my area, SMK Petagas will be repaired and the tender for this project is already out,” he said.

“We’ll have a manifesto for our own district and if we can, we will push for the opening of more private higher education institutions.

“Last time, I promised to make Putatan a packaging hub and we have realised this. My focus now is to develop tourism in the area.

“We can provide facilities to let tourists enjoy watching the sunset from our beaches. We can also help improve the performance of school students in the area.”

PH last week launched its manifesto for GE14, pledging to implement “10 promises in 100 days, to build the nation and fulfil hope”.

Among the 10 promises are abolishing GST and returning Sabah and Sarawak’s rights according to the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Earlier, Yahya, who is also Sabah Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry, launched a project to lay artificial reefs off-shore Putatan.

To date, 1,029 artificial reefs have been placed in waters throughout Sabah, under a RM12 million programme involving 120 fishing villages.

According to him, research indicated the project helped increase fishermen’s income per trip to RM40.67, a 50% improvement.

He also said the government, through the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM), had spent RM62.5 million in subsistence allowances for 17,374 fishermen in the state in a year. -Mkini