Selangor government performed better than neighbouring Perak in achieving top blue-ribbon electoral pledges made in 2013 general election, a study by an NGO found.

Kuasa chief executive Praba Ganesan said Shah Alam's score in pledges was double than Ipoh.

“To provide better and meaningful insight, Kuasa further analysed only the top blue-ribbon pledges, with scoring Perak 21 and Selangor 22.

“When evaluating them, the average of completion for Selangor was 73 percent, while Perak 31 percent. It appears that when those promises are substantial and matter considerably to states' residents, Selangor performed much better than Perak,” he told a press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning.

Top blue-ribbon pledges are promises that are more "measurable" and deemed more "challenging".

The Selangor government consists of PKR, DAP and PAS while Perak is ruled by BN.

According to Kuasa, Selangor government had fully achieved seven out of 22, or more than a third blue-ribbon pledges. They are:

  1. Implementation of Klang river third bridge project worth RM300 million.
  2. Provide minimum monthly allowances of RM1,000 to religious schools to increase teaching activities to commensurate with the salary.
  3. Provide an additional annual RM2 million to vernacular schools.
  4. Provide free and user-friendly public transport including buses.
  5. Continuing the existing provision of free mammogram screening.
  6. RM500 cash assistance to couples for first marriage.
  7. Continue Mesra Usia Emas scheme.

In contrast, Perak only fully achieved one out of 21 blue-ribbon pledges, which is providing RM300 million allocation to indigenous community.

In terms of overall election pledges, Praba said Perak scored lower than Selangor, where the former gained 61 percent out of 82 items, while the latter 72 percent out of 54 items.

But he reminded that the Perak government's manifesto had a litany of low-hanging fruits.

“When compared to Selangor, it (Perak) appeared to have fixed the game to look good without providing considerable benefits.”

Hence, Praba insisted that blue-ribbon pledges are a better measurement in evaluating both state governments' performance in fulfilling election pledges made three years ago.