Barisan Alternatif (BA) will focus on 'bread and butter issues' instead of ideological polemics with its rivals to capture the votes in Selangor in the next general election.

The opposition front's newly launched common agenda 'Bersama Selangor Baru' among others offers to revive local elections, introduce a one house one family policy and re-evaluate the various taxes imposed by the current state government.

The agenda, which was launched in Klang on Jan 1, was formulated based on a survey by an independent poll agency which stated that the majority of the people in the state have financial problems.

BA claimed that 62 percent of the1,000 people surveyed said they have yet to enjoy the state's economic development and another 72 percent believed that local elections must be revived.

The survey also revealed that 54 percent of the participants had witnessed corruption involving the current government while 80 percent said the state's crime rate is unreasonably high.

Clean government

In his speech at the launch, PAS state commissioner Dr Hasan Ali said the survey depicted the true plight of the rakyat who yearned for greater transparency and fairer distribution of wealth.

He said BA is committed towards establishing a clean government complete with an ombudsman to restrict nepotism and cronyism.

"The people are tired of witnessing the corrupt practices involving those from the lower ranks in government agencies up to Mentri Besar (Mohd Khir Toyo), who has had several reports filed against him with the Anti Corruption Agency," he added.

The PAS leader also stressed on the need to change te state's economic policy, which he described as benefitting only the rich.

He said BA is also aware of the social ills which is on the rise among youths in Selangor, adding that the current Basrisan Nasional government has failed to organise effective programmes to curb the problem.

"The current government is seen to be more concert-friendly where they organise meaningless entertaintment to attract youths instead of providing them a direction through participation in programmes that are worthwhile," he added.

Basic issues

Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) Youth chief Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor said the common agenda serves as a guide for the people on what to expect should they give the opposition front the mandate to run the state.

"In Selangor, we find that basic issues such as family income, home and land ownership are the main concerns of the people. This is why we feel that we must address these issues and show our commitment to establishing good governance to change their lives for the better," he said when met after the launch.

"We feel good about this approach. People are tired of debating on political ideologies when their lives have not improved. I believe that the people are ready for a better change," he added.

BA currently held six seats out of 48 in the Selangor state legislative assembly. The fight in the coming general election is for 56 state and 22 parliamentary seats (previously 17) in the state following the recent re-delineation exercise.