GE14 | Continuity is said to describe Malacca BN’s manifesto themed “Creating Excellence Together” launched by caretaker deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi last Friday.

The manifesto contains 62 original initiatives and three additional initiatives, each of which continues from the 13th general election manifesto which had been successfully undertaken, such as the effort to prosper the local economy for the well-being of the people in the state.

Caretaker chief minister Idris Haron said over the last five years, the per capita income for the people in the state had increased from RM35,699 to RM41,363 with the unemployment rate of 0.9 percent, the lowest in the country.

He said the state’s inflation rate has remained under control at an average of 2.25 percent, poverty rate between 0 and 0.1 percent with no hardcore poor, and the GDP had increased to RM33.2 billion from RM27.6 billion.

“We have fulfilled 100 percent of our GE13 manifesto, but the Malacca BN government will continue giving priority to the effort to improve the people’s wellbeing as stated in our GE14 manifesto,” Idris told Bernama.

Idris said among the initiatives being prioritised in the GE14 manifesto were efforts to create more job and business opportunities for the people in Malacca, such as from the Malacca Gateway, Malacca Impression and Kuala Linggi Growth Area projects.

Apart from that, he said construction of road, airport, roll-on/roll-off terminal and Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail projects were also underlined in the manifesto, which were seen capable of luring more investments that would boost the state’s economy.

“The Malacca government under my leadership will definitely work harder to lure more investments, local and foreign, so that more job and business opportunities can be created,” he said.

In fact, he said Zahid had added the initiative to create 50,000 job opportunities, especially among youths in the state, and announced the Kuala Linggi-Masjid Tanah-Klebang-Teluk Mas coastal highway to Banting, Selangor, which would not only provide the best transport facilities to the people but could function as a catalyst for development in the surrounding areas.

Apart from the economy, Malacca, known as the Green Technology City State, had taken various green technology approaches to create a better environment for the people besides preserving the natural environment for the next generation.

Various awards were also conferred to Malacca over past five years, including the UK International Green Award for the excellent performance in environmental development and heritage design; and the Sustainable City Award from the Ministry of Urban Wellbeing, Housing, and Local Government.

In ensuring the continuity, Idris said the Malacca BN manifesto also focused on increasing the number of open recreation areas, developing incinerators for recycling purposes, building flood mitigation projects, increasing the number of electric buses and promoting the use of environmental friendly LED lights.

He said technology development among the people would be enhanced by improving access to wireless broadband, developing more online applications and increasing internet hotspot facilities at public locations.

The chief minister said Zahid’s concern about the welfare of the people, especially the younger generation, was visible when he announced the additional initiative to build a motorcycle racing circuit to ensure that the young generation would not get involved in illegal racing.

Idris said over the last term, the BN-led Malacca government had also achieved the status of the most prosperous state in Malaysia in 2016 with a score of 8.28 out of 10, and that its manifesto for the GE14 focused specifically on empowering youths, women, people with disabilities, senior citizens and communities.

Malacca had also emerged as one of the best affordable housing providers in the country and the efforts to develop high-quality affordable housing would continue to be implemented, especially in Kuala Linggi-Tanah Lantai Mas-Teluk Mas highway areas.

To further enhance the quality of life of the people, Idris said the manifesto also focused on improving and upgrading public infrastructure, such as sports and market facilities, as well as schools and other training institutions.

“Let us reinforce our determination and aspiration to maintain the wellbeing of this beloved state by continuing to work more quickly and effectively so that Malacca will move ahead of other states,” he said.

- Bernama