Education reforms and reduction in car prices are among the pledges by colourful Bukit Bintang independent Billi Lim, who launched his unconventional election manifesto today.

The author and motivational guru unveiled his seven-point 'Manifesto with a difference' with a twist as reporters were treated to an unique seminar at the Federal Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

As a start, Lim headed his election pledge with a caution to voters. "If you always vote for who you are voting, you will always get what you have been getting".

Lim said Bukit Bintang had been represented by a single party - DAP - for too long and it had failed to bring a difference to the constituents.

"In 1995, the Barisan Nasional won by default but the voters also got the same thing. Why not try for a new (representative)?"

The author is among four candidates vying for the coveted seat. His rivals are DAP incumbent Fong Kui Lun, Barisan Nasional (BN)/MCA newcomer Tan Chew Mooi and former Bukit Bintang MP and Malaysian Democratic Party (MDP) secretary-general Wee Choo Keong.

A different fish

Stressing on the shortcomings of the education system, Lim said the youth in the country have been conditioned to stop thinking for themselves.

"The big fish have been eating the small fish, the fast fish have been eating the slow fish. But in the future, only the different fish will win all fish," he asserted.

He said in order to have a creative and innovative nation, the government should discard its practice of implementing blanket bans to deal with social problems committed by small groups of people.

"We cannot have a policy that ban, ban and ban! This is a strangling of individual rights. We have to stop it there," he said.

Lim also hinted that he had a new strategy to stem the tide of religious extremism in schools. Point three in his manifesto said, "Proper spiritual values instead of religious extremism in schools".

Asked to elaborate on this later, Lim said the government should start by deploying retired citizens to monitor the atmosphere in schools.

"The (retirees) can (observe) and write reports on the situation. Then the government can take action. Lots of things are happening in our schools but the teachers do not report it," he said.

Crime-free city

Another highlight in the manifesto was his pledge to fight for a reduction in the prices of cars.

"A Proton Saga is sold for British pound 6,000 in the United Kingdom. An average worker there makes about GBP 2,000 per month so it takes him three months to pay off his car.

"Here in Malaysia, a car is about RM60,000. A worker here too makes an average of RM2,000. You have to work 30 months to pay your car and you won't even have money to eat," he said.

Lim also pledged to work towards a crime-free city, not only for the citizens but also to woo tourists to the country.

He said between last November and February this year, more than 3,000 petty crimes have been reported.

"I can convince MPs to agree to my projects. I have been changing mindsets for more than 20 years," he added.

Troubled BN

Responding to reporters' questions later, Lim said he is confident of winning a much higher number of votes than his previous foray in 1999.

Then, Lim garnered only 198 votes in contrast with his competitors, Fong and former BN-MCA contestant Dr Lee Chong Meng, who both secured more than 15,000 votes.

"I have been receiving feedback everyday. BN may lose because the message in one of their posters has hurt the Chinese community. The race now is between me and DAP," he said, adding that he was confident of gaining 15,000 votes for this round because of his new strategy.

On the competition posed by Wee, Lim said one factor against the MDP candidate was his nine-year absence from the polls scene. (Wee had been disqualified from running in 1999 because of a contempt of court conviction)

The author said he still has an ace up his sleeve. "I still have my last strategy. It is very good. You will see it on polling day," he said.

Following the press conference, Lim proceeded on an "antique car parade" which saw him driven from Jalan Bukit Bintang to Jalan Imbi, in a small entourage, festooned with his distinctive yellow and red posters.