BN Manifesto meets people's needs, aspirations - Najib 
KUALA LUMPUR, April (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto for the 14th general election which contains 364 pledges is a comprehensive document with a clear vision and plan that is capable of being implemented, meets the needs and aspirations of the people for the next five years, said Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said the 220-page manifesto, promised programmes that would make Malaysia great and bring the country forward as a nation through a quantum leap.
"If we look back, since the first general election in 1955, we have tabled and served one manifesto after another , and now it is the 14th time.
"For BN, we do not regard it as something which we look at lightly, as merely a document that records in writing, but as our pledge to the people , a document which we look at seriously and this is our pledge and promise. Everything in the BN Manifesto we will implement fully," he said when launching the BN manifesto before a blue ocean of BN supporters at the packed Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil , which can accommodate 12,000 people, tonight.
Besides the thousands of other BN supporters listening outside the stadium, the more than one-hour long speech was also broadcast live though the local television stations and could also be watched through Najib's official Facebook.
The GE14 manifesto, with the theme "With BN for a Greater Malaysia', offers 14 thrusts, namely Mothers and Women First; A Home for Everyone; Three Million Jobs; More Smiles in Sabah and Sarawak; Futuristic Transportation; Digital Empowerment; Made in Malaysia; A Newer BR1M; Rakyat's Economy; Future-Oriented Education; Live Healthy; Peaceful 1Negaraku; TN50 and Universal Child Care.
The prime minister said the manifesto offered every Malaysian, regardless of race, religion, rank and colour, and their grandchildren a chance to enjoy a better life.
"This general election is not (about) Najib Razak contesting against the opposition leader, not (about) BN against the opposition, (but) to determine which party will get to decide that every Malaysian will get to enjoy a better life, that our families and children, and grandchildren will get to enjoy a much better future.
That is why, I want to stress that BN will continue to fight for the betterment of every Malaysian, he said.
Najib said the people should make a wise decision by choosing a party with vast experience, proven track record, tested by various obstacles, and with clear mission and plans , compared with a party that gave a 'formula for disaster' through their manifesto.
"Let's not regret, lets not wake up to the next morning to a Malaysia that we no longer recognise. We do not want our children and grandchildren, and their children to later on condemn and penalise us, he said.
Najib, who was on stage with leaders of three other BN component parties, pledged and promised to develop the country from Perlis until Sabah and Sarawak so that not a single area or Malaysian would be left out.
He also announced national and state level initiatives, as well as a special announcement on the increase in the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), of RM2,000, from RM1,200 for those with household income of RM3,000 and below; household income of RM3,000 to RM4,000 (from RM900 to RM1,500) and unmarried individuals with income of RM2,000 and below (from RM450 to RM600).
Najib also announced two new categories of BR1M recipients, for those with household income of RM4,000 to RM5,000, who would receive RM700 and a one off payment of RM1,500 for children of BR1M recipients who registered at institutions of higher learning.
He said the BN manifesto placed commitment on empowering women, who were regarded the family pillar; intensifying housing programmes through the setting up of the National Housing Agency; creating three million new employment opportunities, compared to only a million in the Pakatan Harapan manifesto; giving priority to basic infrastructure for the people and futuristic transportation, as well as empowering the use of digital technology through the Digital Free Trade Zone (DFTZ).
Apart from that, he said the manifesto also gave priority and support to Malaysian-made products; giving priority to people's economy, including setting up a Fair Works Commission to determine the salary level of workers in the private sector, ensuring suitability of the education system with the future for Industrial Revolution 4.0; determination to build a healthier an better quality life for the people, as well as ensuring the people's safety from extremism and crime.
The manifesto, he said, also emphasised the future generation of the 2050 National Transformation to obtain employment opportunities or training at least within six months after completing their studies, as well as introducing a universal childcare policy, encompassing nutrition, child care centres, professional childcare policy and neighbourhood watch or ombudsman, apart from continuing with the agenda of empowering bumiputera as a national agenda and upholding the Islamic teachings in Malaysia.
Najib ended his speech with a doa seeking God to protect Malaysia against any disaster and to continue to bless BN's struggle in defending the country's future from threats by liars and traitors.
The prime minister then read out the BN pledge, which included rectifying its past weaknesses and to fight til the very end for Malaysia if given the opportunity and mandate by the people in GE14 to continue to administer the country.
--BERNAMA
