Village chief elections, gazetted land for the Orang Asli community and a monthly aid of RM760 to fight poverty are the key points of the newly-launched Perak Pakatan Rakyat manifesto.

In the manifesto launched today, the state Pakatan also promises to set up a special education fund, with a RM5 million yearly allocation, to assist Indian and Orang Asli children and to rejunevate Tamil national-type schools.

NONE In his speech, Perak Pakatan chief Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin ( right ) said Pakatan would also assist the long-neglected indigenous community to progress should it succeed in wrestling back the state in the coming election.

Under its rule, Nizar said, Pakatan would ensure that Perak is turned into the richest state in the country.

“The Orang Asli will be developed and taken into the mainstream so they can become citizens of calibre.

“For 55 years of Umno rule, the Orang Asli have been the same. We (Pakatan) will ensure the Orang Asli enjoy progress along with the other Perak people,” Nizar said.

“We too have long dreamed of Perak at the highest level and as a visionary and wealthiest state. We (Perak) are actually the wealthiest state in the country. Now, we are the third poorest.”

Nizar said this in his speech during the launch of the state opposition manifesto in Ipoh today.

Among the other promises featured in the manifesto:

  • RM250,000 allocation per annum to all state assembly constituencies regardless of representative’s political persuasion.
  • Suitable land for Chinese and Tamil vernacular schools that have received allocation approval from the federal government.
  • Ensure availability of affordable housing for those in need by allocating 30,000 new residential land lots over the next five years.
  • Fair employment opportunities for all races and gender in the public sector based on needs and qualifications.
  • RM1,100 minimum wage for all staff of the state government and government-linked companies (GLCs)
  • Land for places of worship and cemeteries for all religions, according to needs, population size and suitability of location.
  • Attract and invite investments in new high-tech industries by offering land leases of up to 99 years.
  • To freeze land and household taxes, as well as water rates, from years 2014 to 2018.
  • Land permium discounts of up to 50 percent to investment projects worth over RM500 million, and/or industries that offer 700 or more employment opportunities to the state

The manifesto also includes repeat of several previous promises made by the opposition, including:

  • Declaration of personal assets by MB and state executive committee members.
  • Free 20 cubic meters of water to families in extreme poverty and households monthly income of RM1,000 or less.
  • Issuance of freehold titles to qualified Perakians and those currently residing in housing lots within planned villages and new villages.

Related stories

Ex-Umno veep Mat Taib joins PAS

Tok Guru: Chinese no longer afraid of Islam

Refer Mustafa to disciplinary panel, says Haron Din

Special team producing sex videos to tarnish image

False ulamas like fake watches, says Nik Aziz