The 13th general election is looming large on the horizon but the Barisan Nasional in Penang has yet to have an election manifesto.

Pakatan Rakyat has its CAT (competency, accountability and transparency) governance but what will be BN's pledge to Penangites should it regain control of the state?

dr m loga bala mohan ppp penang chief 251108 03 "We are proposing the manifesto ‘JFK', based on justice, fairness and knowledge," Penang People's Progressive Party (PPP) chief Dr Loga Bala Mohan told Malaysiakini .

Asked why ‘JFK', Loga Bala said some might remember the great American president John F Kennedy, who brought reforms to his country but unfortunately was assassinated in the 60s.

"But the truth is, we want justice for all citizens regardless of race and religion.

"We want fairness in policies such as education and development and we are seeking more opportunities and access to knowledge for Malaysians, especially the youth from all communities," he said.

Asked if the call from PPP included seeking justice in controversial issues such as the conduct of police, which Pakatan says smacks of double standard, Loga Bala said, "Yes, of course. It includes all that."

Loga Bala, who is also the state BN psychological warfare chief, said the BN manifesto needed to be speedily publicised to the people as they wanted to see it successful in the coming election.

"It is true. Many people want to see the BN succeed in Penang in the coming election. We came up with ideas for the manifesto after it was proposed by our delegates at the recent party convention," he added.

‘Tit for tat' campaign

Some 700 delegates attended the Penang PPP convention last Sunday, which was officiated by party president M Kayveas. State BN chief Teng Chang Yeow was also present at the convention, at which the Penang BN manifesto idea was proposed.

The delegates also passed two resolutions, one for the building of vocational schools for Tamil-speaking students, with special focus on Mathematics and English.

NONE Teng recently launched the state BN's GE13 battle cry, "Explain and Attack" (Serang dan Terang), after accusations that Pakatan was underminding the BN's chances of victory in Penang.

One of these Pakatan actions is the state government's plan to set up a committee to probe the "cheap" sale of some 4,000 acres of state land during the 18 years Penang was ruled by BN-Gerakan chief minister Koh Tsu Koon ( right ).

The BN via the state Gerakan Youth wing has fought back with allegations about the private residence Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng lives in and his relationship with the house owner, a ‘Ms P'.

Loga Bala also said PPP hopes to contest two seats in Penang, a parliamentary seat and a state seat, and that the party was very hopeful of winning both with the help of its other coalition partners.