Baru defends PH manifesto against attack by Abg Johari

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s attempt at discrediting the Pakatan Harapan (PH) manifesto by training his guns on PH chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad shows his poor understanding of the workings of the PH coalition, said state Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairman Baru Bian.

Baru, who is Ba Kelalan assemblyman, was commenting on Abang Johari’s recent statement that it would make no sense for Sarawakians to buy the opposition manifesto as Dr Mahathir did not do much for Sarawak during his 22-year tenure as prime minister from 1981.

According to Baru, the PH manifesto was formulated by a working committee and agreed upon by all four parties in PH, adding that it was not written by Dr Mahathir alone.

Looking at the national Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto, Baru said it is farcical that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and BN should still have a manifesto full of promises.

“They have had so many years to deliver on their previous promises and should be campaigning on their track record but instead, BN’s main attraction is the promise of increased BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Aid) and his throwing of cash baits such as the petrol allowances and BR1M to taxi drivers recently, while offering no explanations for the 1MDB and other corruption scandals nor preventive measures against further scandals.

“If Abang Jo questions our sincerity, we can also question the sincerity of Najib Razak in fulfilling all the promises in the BN manifesto. Take the promise to upgrade all dilapidated schools within five years. It seems we have heard this promise time and time again. The 2012 Education Blueprint stated that by the end of 2013, critical repairs and upgrades would be completed across all 1,608 dilapidated schools starting with those in Sabah and Sarawak.