States to make good on pledges

Perikatan leaders say states will fulfil promises even without federal funds

PETALING JAYA: We did not offer the moon and the stars and we can deliver all the promises we made over the next five years.

That seems to be the stance of the leaders of all states that have just completed the polls.

Both sides – the unity pact of Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional – said that besides fulfilling promises in the manifesto, they would also look into issues raised by voters.

Perikatan leaders also went further, saying they would fulfil their promises even if the Federal Government refused them allocations.

The unity pact kept its hold over the states of Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang, while Perikatan – comprising PAS, Bersatu and Gerakan – had managed to retain Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.

Newly sworn-in Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Datuk Aminuddin Harun said he still had promises to fulfil from his previous term.

His manifesto this time, called the Negri Sembilan Unity Aspiration Manifesto, contains five pillars with 10 main thrusts, outlining 70 initiatives for the state’s multi-racial community.

“We will start working on the new promises and continue with promises made in the last term,” said Aminuddin after clocking into office in Seremban.

In neighbouring Selangor, caretaker mentri besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said he had a plan that would be put into action once sworn in.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced Amirudin as the Mentri Besar designate.

On July 31, Amirudin launched the state manifesto dubbed “Our Offer for Selangor: 5 Determinations for 5 Years” with five key pledges.

They were: a superior economy with quality education as catalysts for high-income employment opportunities; religion as a beacon and inspiration for a dignified life; efficient government services; sustainable, comfortable and liveable development; and a compassionate state for its people and residents.

He further said there would be offers within the manifesto which would be executed within 100 days of the election victory.

These include a payout of an annual incentive of RM1,000 for 5,000 working mothers, exemption of assessment fees for kampung houses and low-cost housing, issuance of RM200 book vouchers to 1,000 college students, increment of allowances for mosque committee leaders and RM1,000 incentives to farmers.

Leaders of Perikatan states, meanwhile, said a special committee had studied the feasibility of their offers, even without help from Putrajaya.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said he had ordered that the entirety of its manifesto be implemented.

On Aug 3, Kedah Perikatan made 17 offers in a manifesto named “Prosperous Kedah, Benefits For All” with the theme of “Retain Sanusi, The Greater Kedah”.

“All those offers are on track. There is nothing which is too difficult or impossible for this state government to accomplish.

“If the Federal Government does not provide the allocation due to us (winning), so be it.

“Perikatan Kedah confined itself to what the state government can do best for Kedahans. We did not promise what we could not fulfil,” he said.

PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said a committee had studied the Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu manifestos from Perikatan to ensure there were no impossible promises.

“This is why we did not promise the moon and the stars, or something we cannot deliver.

“Besides the offers which we promised, we are also now looking at the issues which were raised by the people during the elections.

“We hope Putrajaya will give these states allocations as stated in the constitution and respect the people’s choice in the last polls in these three states,” said Tuan Ibrahim, who is also the Pahang state assembly opposition chief.

Perikatan Kelantan offered 18 promises in its manifesto titled “Kelantan Progresses, People Prosper” – while Perikatan Terengganu offered 10 promises in its manifesto simply called “Offers of PN Best”.