Following in the footsteps of Selangor BN, Perak BN’s state-level manifesto announced today is also promising free water for the first 20 cubic metres of usage by the poor.

Despite this and some other similarities to the Perak Pakatan Rakyat manifesto unveiled last week, which also stated free water and housing development policies, Perak BN chief Zambry Abdul Kadir denied BN copied from Pakatan.

NONE Instead, Zambry accused Pakatan of “stealing” Perak BN’s manifesto and revealing the details to the public and the press before BN could make the official announcement today.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Promise of Hope: BN for You’ manifesto, the Pangkor state seat candidate slammed PAS for “stealing” BN’s idea.

He claimed PAS had obtained a copy of BN’s manifesto earlier on.

“For me, they are actually an opposition that is unprofessional and has no class. Why did they take other people’s property?

“We know that some of things that they launched were from us, because they had taken our ideas. And when they launch it (first), it sounds like their own idea,” Zambry claimed.

Free water for the poor was one of Pakatan Selangor’s initiatives after they took over the state in 2008, a policy that had consistently drawn criticism from BN for allegedly bankrupting the state’s coffers.

Addressing several hundred BN supporters at Padang Renggas today, Zambry lamented that Pakatan’s manifesto was all lies.

“They want to give free education: it’s true or a lie? They want to reduce petrol price: true or lie? They want to abolish toll: true or lie?” he asked, and the supporters replied “lie” unanimously.

Speaking at a press conference later, Zambry said he was not afraid that Pakatan would use his claim as an issue to accuse him as copycat.

'They stole all our ideas'

“No, I’m the one who will criticise them. They copy our free water programmes… the idea of people’s housing programme also came from us.

“They steal from us beforehand, they should feel ashamed about this,” he added.

Among the other promises featured in the manifesto:

  • 15,000 lots for housing with a community business centre;
  • 7,000 lots for housing for former police and army personnel;
  • Building of 20,000 houses to achieve zero squatter areas;
  • Making Pulau Pangkor a duty-free zone;
  • Setting up special economic zones covering Kamunting, Kampar, Pantai Remis, Teluk Intan-Bagan Datok and Lekir-Pasir Panjang;
  • Establishing a high-technology industry business hub in middle of Perak;
  • Increasing household incomes from RM1,500 to RM3,000 for the Dermasiswa scholarship; and
  • RM200 Amanjaya savings money for every child.

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