Vote BN for greater progress

KOTA KINABALU: Campaigning for the 14th general election (GE14) is now in its fourth phase with the Barisan Nasional (BN) leading all parties in Malaysia as far as presentation and content of its election manifesto is concerned.

The BN Manifesto, be it at the national or Sabah level, is admittedly more comprehensive, inclusive and realistic. It promises a plan that is achievable and has the ability to elevate the people's lives and ensure continued prosperity.

The detailed manifesto will carry the people forward by intensifying development, look after the people's interest and create prosperity for a better, glorious future.

The National BN Manifesto outlines 14 pledges with 364 initiatives; an extraordinary offer to the people of this nation. All of it focuses on providing greater prosperity for the people and the nation. As for the Sabah BN Manifesto, it gives emphasis on 20 points that cover the rights of Sabah in Malaysia, socioeconomic development, religious rights, human development, women, youth, finding a resolve to the illegal immigrants issue and security, land ownership and environmental protection.

On the other hand, the opposition manifesto leans more to “ambition” and “promises” to change. Indirectly, the opposition is saying what the BN has succeeded and planned has no meaning all this while, and promises it will do better. It is clear the opposition manifesto is an open ended statement or a mere promise rather than “a development plan for the future” as what the Barisan Nasional has offered.

Umno Sabah information secretary Effendi Mohamed Sunoh pointed this out in a statement yesterday.

As a whole, Effendi said the focus of the opposition parties in the 14th GE is just to topple the BN. In the process, the shout calls for change but if we look closely on social media, they use many absurd terms in its desperate attempt to bring down the government.

“Why change the government that has all these while function impressively, and now we have started talking about the National Transformation Programme 2050 or TN50; a vision to bring greater development to Malaysia by 2050! Isn't the National Transformation agenda bigger compared to the change being called for by the Opposition? In this respect the BN government has never failed it its effort to develop the nation in heeding the currents needs of the future generation,” he said.

According to Effendi, it is good to note, any change or replacement: from one that is old to new, especially in selecting a government, is not necessarily good. The term change or replace that is being called for by the opposition are mere rhethorics; it has the ability to fire up the spirit for some followers or supporters, but the change or replacement they are struggling for will not be a guarantee that the people will have a government that is far better or greater compared to the Barisan Nasional government.

“I call upon the people to think rationally with an open mind. The people need to avoid being hoodwinked by lies. People also need to decide based on considerations and calculations for the sake of the future - not based on anger or disappointment.

“As we enter into the fourth phase, we are faced with an interesting phenomenon on war of words, flags, posters and surely the most intense, the new media or social media war.

“Many consider the 14th GE as the most difficult and challenging. To me, this challenge is not because of how great the opposing parties are, but it's because of the new media or social media; this new communication medium has strong influence on society.

“This medium has been fully capitalised by netizens, especially the people and political parties in spreading their campaigns. This includes approaching voters ‘personally', and there are also those who use this with intention to incite and slander,” he said.

As a party that has governed at the Federal and State level, Effendi said BN faces a multitude of political opponents that have appeared like mushrooms after the rain, each thirsting for the power to rule. “The opposition, to win the hearts of the voters, apart from displaying their manifesto promises, in whatever means possible, manipulate issues to defeat the government. From trivial matters to major issues they will continue to pry; whether it is true or not, as long as the people are fooled and their hearts won over.

“The opposition will stick to their propaganda; to colonise and sensationalise GST. They will say GST burdens the people and that they plan to abolish it if they rule. The proposal will surely win support from opposition supporters, but in reality such sweet promise will not be easy to implement.

“If the majority of countries in the world (160 countries) applied GST in its administrative system, what good excuse would the opposition have to offer to reject such an effective system?” he said.

Malaysia was among the countries that only recently introduced the GST and at 6% compared to 7% in Singapore, 10% in Indonesia and 12% in the Philippines; in taking ASEAN countries for example. China, a world economic giant imposed 17% GST. In Europe the GST rate is much higher. In Germany GST stands at 19%, 19.6% in France, 20% in the United Kingdom and 25% in Denmark.

According to Effendi further, the problem with the opposition, they are calling for GST to be abolished; sensationalise and twisting facts without elaborating the importance or the use of GST to the people. There are always two sides of a coin. You cannot just look at one side while ignoring the other.

Revenue collected from GST are meant to benefit the people and to develop the nation. The GST system is one that is transparent, compulsory without compromise or running away from it, especially among traders, corporate companies or conglomerates. Revenue collected from GST is way higher compared to the old system, SST (Sales Service Tax), where there are leakages, loopholes or weaknesses that allow for certain parties to escape or avoid paying taxes.

If 160 countries use and acknowledge how effective the GST system is, why are the opposition still saying the system does not benefit the people? The irony is, those who say it now used to say otherwise when they were still in government and supported the GST! But when they switched camps, they change their stand, make U-turn and even protested against it. This is what you call two-face leaders.

In the first year it was implemented, the GST allowed the government to collect RM41.2 billion from taxpayers and RM44.29 billion the following year. If compared to the SST system, the average collection was around RM16 billion to RM18 billion annually.

The revenue collected was used by the government to fund many development projects such as distribution of the 1Malaysia People's Aid or BR1M, educational assistance (purchase of books and other learning materials), part payment of study costs at public higher learning institutions, payment of subsidy for daily essentials and many other costs that are borne by the government. The higher the collection, the higher also the returns.

This means, if the opposition get to rule the country, they will not be able to abolish the GST system because it is considered to be the best in the world in raising the source of income for government administrations.

On another issue, Effendi said the introduction of the Anti Fake News Act passed in parliament is timely. If not the 14th GE battleground, where seats are up for grabs, will be smeared with many sinful tales, conspiracy theories, twists and dramas that are extreme lies. This does not include character assassination, belittling certain individuals, reviling, insulting or even cursing. All these are gutter politics that are spreading and getting more popular, including among those who are supporters and followers of opposition parties.

Such Machiavellian or cunning political objective, will destroy the cultural values and order of righteousness in society. It will threaten harmony and order of the multi-racial society that has lived peacefully all these while.

As it is now, he said there are many “postings” on social media where there are certain account holders who are showing how unscrupulous and insane they can be, writing whatever they feel like writing, hurling insults, shaming and cursing people. The problem is, not only the whole world are able to see such characters in Malaysia, but also the younger generation, our own children, who will be reading and copying these traits.

“Everybody knows, these people who are now calling for change, were at one time those who supported the government. But because of their dream and political revenge, their selfish ambition and thirst for power, they left. Strange but true, why didn't they make the change for so long when they were in government.

“Judging by what can be seen the last five years, Barisan Nasional administered Sabah with sound achievements. Proof of its achievements can be seen and cannot be denied! Allocations provided for development are by no means small. Among the key development programmes was when the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak launched the project to build the RM652 million Universiti Malaysia Sabah medical institution two months ago. Before this the Prime Minister approved the construction of the Pan Borneo Highway which will cost RM12.8 billion, a project that will make Sabah more accessible, improve connectivity and transform people's lives,” he said.

Effendi added the construction of the two oil and gas hubs in Kimanis and Sipitang; apart from showing the effective leadership of Datuk Seri Musa Aman, it also shows how Putrajaya or the Central Barisan Nasional government will always fulfil the needs of the people of Sabah. Apart from Kimanis and Sipitang, the BN government has also planned to create industrial parks north and east of Sabah, to ensure the people of Sabah can fully appreciate the progress and development of the oil and gas sector, where Sabah is among the main producer in the country.

These are among the benefits of having strong State and Federal ties, especially under the able leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the Prime Minister since 2009.

The treatment towards Sabah (and Sarawak) has been extraordinary compared to other Prime Ministers in the past. Najib Razak has openly acknowledged the Federal government had “taken”, where intentionally or unintentionally, the rights of Sabah in Malaysia, and openly pledged to return what was taken.

He said Najib had created a record of sorts as the country's number leader who understands the pulse of the people and displays his sensistivity to the rights of Sabah as enshrined in the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63). His readiness to return the rights is not a political rhethoric and this was proven with the formation of the National Action Committee and Technical Committee on MA63 on devolution of powers to Sabah and Sarawak, jointly chaired by representatives from the two states, Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

In fact the promise to return the rights of Sabah (and Sarawak) was made stronger when it is listed in the National BN Manifesto for the Rights of Sabah and Sarawak under MA63 to be realised by concensus.

“Under the Barisan Nasional, Sabah is now moving forward progressively and rapid development can be seen unlike before. This is also strengthened by pledges and commitment from the State and Federal administrations to adhere to the contents of the MA63. The people of Sabah can make their choice of ensuring their rights are protected by voting the BN on May 9.

“We should not waste this golden opportunity. BN began all this and BN will carry it through,” he said.