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The papers did not list out the complete list of BN’s manifesto, so I’m listing them below (not in order). I did not put the list of achievements since the facts may be disputable or not worded properly. Will try to put them up later. Anyway, one will vote based on what the parties promise to do, and BN have the added burden of proving that what they promised earlier have been done, while the opposition (except PAS) don’t have such problem.

1. Foreign Policy

• Continue to play an active, principled and impartial role in international affairs
• Expand trade and investment linkages
• Advance the economic agenda of the OIC through capacity-building programmes in less developed OIC countries
• Promote strategic partnerships between the West and the Muslim world to advance the economic agenda of the Makkah Declaration 2005 (may increase islamisation and arabication to attract the investors?)
• Continue to build bridges between the Muslim world and the West through continuous dialogue
• Contribute towards a development agenda for the world’s poorest countries

2. Reducing Corruption and Improving Governance

• Continue to enforce anti-corruption measures without fear or favour
• Strengthen monitoring and enforcement by agencies such as the ACA, Customs, Inland Revenue and local authorities
• Establish an effective Special Complaints Commission to act on complaints of misconduct in enforcement agencies
• Continue to foster a culture of integrity and high ethical standards through the National Integrity Plan 

3. Religion, Unity

• Build a better understanding of Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims through Islam Hadhari (whatever this means)
• Enhance appreciation for diverse cultures among Malaysia’s multiethnic people (unclear)
• Expand the teaching of J-QAF to more schools (for muslims only?)
• Ensure provision of reserve land for places of worship in newly developed areas in accordance with developed guidelines (good start, but what exactly is the developed guidelines)
• Facilitate construction, consolidation and relocation of all places of worship via state government mechanism, co-ordinated at federal level, that will protect the interests of all communities (good start, thanks to HINDRAF?)
• Increase dialogue on inter-faith issues through the Department of National Unity and National Integration (vague, maybe not enough, I was expecting an establishment of an entity to handle inter-faith issues)
• Improve unity programmes, especially in schools and institutions of higher learning (vague)

4. Public Services

• Speed up implementation of e-government initiatives
• Complete overhaul of all land offices and district offices
• Speed up issuance of licences and permits
• Establish rating system for local authorities to improve performance
• Tie civil servants’ promotions, rewards and penalties more closely to performance targets
• Increase ethnic diversity in the public sector (no specific minimum targets?)
• Have a 3 to 7-day response time by all government agencies to all public queries and complaints

5. Law & Order

• Bring down the country’s crime index (good)
• Tackle drug abuse and other social ills
• Address the issue of illegal immigrants  (good)
• Add 60,000 Police personnel by 2011
• Set up more than 150 new Police stations and beat bases to increase presence in more neighbourhoods
  Improve safety in schools, playgrounds and public areas
• Enhance community policing via partnerships with non-governmental organisations, the private sector and local community
• Upgrade Police communications technology, armaments, vehicles, technical aids and training
• Focus Police operations and resources in crime hot-spots across the country
• Redelineate Police districts to better match Police resources with community security needs 

6. Education

• Raise teachers’ minimum qualications and provide more training opportunities (its not the qualification, but the quality)
• Continue to make national schools the school of choice by, among others, expanding the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil (this kind of clashes with the next point)
• Safeguard the position of national-type schools (how to safeguard if plan to pull students away by offering language in national schools?)
• Enhance national unity by fostering student interaction (vague)
• Provide more scholarships at the undergraduate level for poor but deserving students regardless of race (well, first there is the issue of qualified students getting into universities)
• Identify apex universities and provide more autonomy and resources for public institutions of higher learning to attain world-class standards (good)
• Raise investment in science and technology particularly in indigenous R&D

7. Balanced Development

• Eradicate hardcore poverty and bring the overall poverty rate down to 2.8% by 2010
• Increase quality rural jobs and incomes
• Improve services and facilities for low-income urban households including rural to urban migrants
• Improve rural electricity coverage in Sabah to 81% and Sarawak to 90% by 2010
• Improve water supply coverage to 70% in both Sabah and Sarawak by 2010
• Continue to close the digital divide and improve broadband internet penetration via the National Broadband Plan
• Continue to implement the New Villages
• Development Masterplan
• Equitable distribution of quality opportunities in income generation, employment, business and education to all parts of Malaysia. Towards this end, the ‘Kelantan Baru, Kelantan Maju’ initiative will deliver development and better quality of life to people in the state (how about something specific for the Orang Asli, Indians, indigenous folks in Sabah and Sarawak?)

8. Economy

• Raise the nation’s productivity, income and competitiveness levels
• Cushion the effects of rising prices and ensure quality living standards for the people
• Strengthen private sector’s role as the main driver of economic growth
• Nurture and assist 1 million SMEs and entrepreneurs over 5 years (bumiputra only or open to all?)
• Generate at least 2 million quality job opportunities over 5 years (quality job?)
• Reduce the Budget deficit further – more funds for development, without increasing taxes
• Follow through on 5 Development Corridors to bring equitable growth, investment and job opportunities to all parts of
  Malaysia

LIGHTENED THE BURDEN OF PRICE INCREASES

• Spent RM16.2 billion in petrol, diesel and gas subsidies, and RM18 billion in lower gas prices for industry and electricity generation (2007)
• Committed RM9.2 billion in other subsidies, from fertilisers to tolls to tuition vouchers (2007)
• Spent RM331 million in electricity tari subsidies in 2006 and 2007
• Maintained price controls on essential goods
• Removed school and examination fees
• Expanded Skim Pinjaman Buku Teks to all primary and secondary school students
• Maintained government clinic consultation fees at RM1
• Built more low-cost houses; maintained rents at RM100-300 a month
• Reduced cost of purchasing homes by up to RM2,000 by cutting stamp duty
• Reduced Road Tax

INCREASED DISPOSABLE INCOME

• Increased salaries and COLA for civil servants, police and armed forces amounting to RM8 billion per year
• Increased special allowance by as much as RM1,500 for teachers and teaching assistants serving in rural areas amounting to RM187 million in total allowances per year.
• Higher Employees Provident Fund/Bank Rakyat/Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera/Lembaga Tabung Haji/Permodalan Nasional Berhad dividends thanks to GLC Transformation and a healthy economy
• Tax relief on purchase of books increased from RM700 to RM1,000 per year
• Tax relief of up to RM4,000 for each child studying in tertiary institutions

ENSURED NO ONE LEFT BEHIND

• Allocated monthlyschool allowance for 1.5 million deserving students
• Increased maximum monthly assistance per poor household from RM350 to RM450
• Awarded automatic scholarships for top-scoring students from families earning less than RM1,500 monthly to pursue tertiary education
• Doubled monthly allowance for disabled students from RM25 to RM50
• Increased disabled workers monthly allowance from RM200 to RM300
• Tax relief of RM5,000 for each disabled child
• Tax relief for disabled taxpayers increased from RM5,000 to RM6,000
• Issued additional RM2 billion bonds for pensioners
• Issued RM1.75 billion Merdeka bonds for pensioners
• Made one-o payment to 542,000 pensioners of between RM200 and RM400
• Monthly assistance for the elderly increased from RM135 to RM200 

ELECTION 2008: PM unveils BN manifesto of security, peace and prosperity
By : V. Vasudevan
source

KUALA LUMPUR, Mon:

Security, Peace and Prosperity. That is what the Barisan Nasional is offering Malaysians in the next five years as outlined by BN chairman Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in a 24-page manifesto launched today at the Putra World Trade Centre.
The manifesto emphasised the Barisan Nasional plan in eight areas over the next five years: economy, balanced development, education, law and order, public services, reducing corruption and improving governance, religion and unity; and foreign policy.  The manifesto not only underlines what the BN hoped to achieve but also what it had accomplished under Abdullah’s leadership since the 2004 polls. In the manifesto preface, Abdullah said strong economic management and a commitment to ensure no one will be left behind have put Malaysia on a solid footing.

“Our economy grew by 6.3 percent in 2007 the best it had performed since 2004, our fiscal deficit was brought down to 3.2 percent of gross domestic product, international trade crossed the RM1 trillion mark, some 1.3 million job opportunities were created, our stock market hit historic highs and five strategic corridor developments were launched,” he said.  Abdullah said the BN government had brought down poverty rates significantly, closed the urban-rural gap and ensured a good quality of life for the lower income groups. These targets were achieved during challenging times, with global oil and food prices at record level. Rising oil prices and other significant international events could affect the domestic economic landscape.
“But we stand ready to anticipate, preempt and take measures to safeguard the well-being of the people, whatever the challenge,” he said. “The confidence is borne out of the fact that the Barisan Nasional I lead is tried and tested. We understand the needs of the people and have delivered on our promises over the years.”  Abdullah said the BN understood the needs of the people and have delivered on its promises over the years. “We also know how to take this nation forward. We have a vision and a mission to make Malaysia glorious,” he said.

The points outlined in BN manifesto:
Economy
? Raise the nation’s productivity, income and competitiveness levels
? Cushion the effects of rising prices
? Generate two million job opportunities
? Reduce the Budget deficit further – more development funds, without increasing taxes
? Follow through on five Development Corridors to bring equitable growth, investment and job opportunities to all parts of Malaysia

Balanced Development
? Eradicate hardcore poverty. Bring poverty rated down to 2.8 percent by 2010
? Increase quality rural jobs and incomes
? Ensure access to modern quality healthcare
? Upgrade urban public transport and reduce traffic congestion
? Affordable housing

Education
? Raise teachers’ minimum qualification and provide more training opportunities
? Continue to make national schools the school of choice by, among others, explaining the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil
? Safeguard the position of national-type schools
? Provide more scholarships for undergraduates for poor but deserving students – regardless of race

Law & Order
? Bring down the country’s crime index
? Tackle drug abuse and other social ills
? Address the issue of illegal immigrants
? Add 60,000 Police personnel by 2011
? Set up more than 150 new Police stations and beat bases to increase presence in more neighourhoods
? Improve safety in schools, playgrounds and public areas
? Focus police operations and resources in crime hot spots across the country

Public Services
? Speed up implementation of e-government initiatives
? Complete overhaul of all land offices and district offices
? Speed up issuance of licenses and permits
? Tie civil servants promotions, rewards and penalties more closely to performance targets
? Increase ethnic diversity in the public sector

Reducing Corruption and Improving Government
? Continue to enforce anti-corruption measures without fear or favour
? Strengthen monitoring and enforcement by agencies such as the ACA, Customs, Inland Revenue and local authorities

Religion & Unity
? Build better understanding of Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims through Islam Hadhari
? Facilitate construction, consolidation and relocation of all places of worship via state government mechanism, coordinated at federal level, that will protect the interests of all communities.
? Increase dialogue on inter-faith issues through the Department of National Unity and National Integration

Foreign Policy
? Continue to play an active, principled and impartial role in international affairs
? Expand trade and investment linkages
? Advance the economic agenda of the OIC through capacity building in less developed OIC countries
? Contribute towards a development agenda for the world’s poorest countries

BN manifesto: Security, peace, prosperity

http://malaysiakini.com/news/78649

The ruling Barisan Nasional is going all out to woo voters this time round, complete with a spanking new election website and an unconventional manifesto.  Drums were beating when top BN leaders entered the hall to a rousing applause from 500 party supporters who packed the Putra World Trade Centre auditorium in Kuala Lumpur. Their election campaign slogan ‘security, peace, prosperity’ was displayed in the backdrop.

The manifesto also carries the progress report from the past four years showcasing what the ruling coalition has done and what it aims to achieve. This is a stark contrast from previous manifesto – entitled ‘excellence, glory, distinction’ – that only presented the aims and promises by the party.

Economic achievements

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in his speech stressed that the public vote should go to BN based on the economic achievements by the government by giving statistics and figures.  “Our economy grew by 6.3 percent in 2007. The best it has performed since 2004, our fiscal deficit was brought down to 3.2 percent of the gross domestic product, international trade crossed the RM1 trillion mark, some 1.3 million job opportunities (were created), our stock market hit an all time high and five strategic development corridors were launched,” he said. “We made many promises in the last elections and we have fulfilled them all,” he asserted to cheers and applause.
According to the manifesto, there is still unfinished business for the ruling coalition.  “For example, our fight against corruption and crime is ngoing. Be assured that Barisan Nasional will not be left wanting in our commitment to finish this fight.

Abdullah scoffed that the opposition would be incapable of doing the same if elected into power. “DAP has their own manifesto, PAS has their own manifesto. They can’t work together. As I have said before. The opposition now are merely forming an alliance of convenience,” he said.

Election website

He was flanked by his deputy, Najib Abdul Razak and other party leaders when he launched the BN election website, bn2008.org.my, which has a downloadable copy of the manifesto. The 24-page manifesto shows the progress report on the left and promises on the right focusing on economy, balanced development, education, law and order, welfare, public service, corruption and governance as well as religion and foreign policy.

The manifesto is accompanied by several documents including a booklet explaining how subsidies work and why the price of goods rise. The bright yellow booklet, which is printed by the Information Ministry, will be given to the public. “We want to spread the word as wide as possible,” Abdullah said about the manifesto and its sister documents before stressing that the past is the best way to gauge which party is best to lead the nation.

Summary of BN manifesto

Economy

• Raise the nation’s productivity, income and competitiveness levels

• Cushion the effects of rising prices

• Generate two million job opportunities

• Reduce the budget deficit further – more development funds, without increasing taxes

• Follow through on five development corridors to bring equitable growth, investment and job opportunities to all parts of Malaysia

Balanced development

• Eradicate hardcore poverty. Bring poverty rated down to 2.8 percent by 2010

• Increase quality rural jobs and incomes

• Ensure access to modern quality healthcare

• Upgrade urban public transport and reduce traffic congestion

• Affordable housing
• Continue to close the digital divide and improve broadband internet penetration

Education

• Raise teachers’ minimum qualification and provide more training opportunities

• Continue to make national schools the school of choice by, among others, explaining the teaching of Mandarin and Tamil

• Safeguard the position of national-type schools

• Provide more scholarships for undergraduates for poor but deserving students – regardless of race
• Identify apex universities and provide more autonomy and
  resources for public institutions of higher learning to attain world-class standards

Law and order

• Bring down the country’s crime index

• Tackle drug abuse and other social ills

• Address the issue of illegal immigrants

• Add 60,000 police personnel by 2011

• Set up more than 150 new Police stations and beat bases to increase presence in more neighourhoods

• Improve safety in schools, playgrounds and public areas

• Focus police operations and resources in crime hot spots across the country

Public services

• Speed up implementation of e-government initiatives

• Complete overhaul of all land offices and district offices

• Speed up issuance of licences and permits

• Tie civil servants promotions, rewards and penalties more closely to performance targets

• Increase ethnic diversity in the public sector

Reducing corruption and improving government

• Continue to enforce anti-corruption measures without fear or favour

• Strengthen monitoring and enforcement by agencies such as the ACA, Customs, Inland Revenue and local authorities
• Establish an effective Special Complaints Commission
• Continue to foster a culture of integrity and high ethical
  standards through the National Integrity Plan

Religion and unity

• Build better understanding of Islam among Muslims and non-Muslims through Islam Hadhari

• Facilitate construction, consolidation and relocation of all places of worship via state government mechanism, coordinated at federal level, that will protect the interests of all communities.

• Increase dialogue on interfaith issues through the Department of National Unity and National Integration
• Improve unity programmes, especially in schools and institutions of higher learning

Foreign policy

• Continue to play an active, principled and impartial role in international affairs

• Expand trade and investment linkages

• Advance the economic agenda of the OIC through capacity building in less developed OIC countries

• Contribute towards a development agenda for the world’s poorest countries

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