PUTRAJAYA: Federal Territory (FT) Barisan Nasional (BN) is going to launch its own manifesto soon, said its chairman Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
It would be unveiled after BN candidates were announced, he said at the Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat (PJSR) here today.
He refused to divulge what had transpired in caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s meetings with BN state and component leaders, menteris besar and chief ministers at the Seri Perdana Complex on Tuesday.
Tengku Adnan, who is BN secretary-general, played his cards close to his chest and kept mum when he was asked about the BN list of candidates.
On the government’s decision to declare May 9 a public holiday to allow Malaysians to vote in the 14th general election (GE14), he said: “It was the Election Commission’s (EC) decision to set the date (polling day) on May 9.
“The fact that May 9 has been declared a public holiday shows the government’s readiness to give Malaysians the opportunity to vote.
“No one, especially the opposition, should stir up speculations, saying the date was chosen to prevent the electorate from casting their votes.”
Earlier, Tengku Adnan, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa and Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority chairman Tan Sri Badruddin Amiruldin had joined the hundreds who thronged the PJSR venue site in Presint 2 to buy food items and fresh produce at low prices.
It was reported that the PJSR programme had recorded more than 2.5 million visitors and RM26.2 million in sales during its nationwide implementation from Jan 20 to March 26.
Hamzah told Dewan Negara recently that the programme had received an overwhelming response, especially in Kelantan, Sabah and Sarawak
He said Kelantan recorded RM5.4 million in sales, Sabah recorded RM3.8 million and Sarawak recorded RM1.93 million.
Hamzah warned traders, who raised the prices of goods to unreasonable levels, that they would face the full brunt of the law.
He said the ministry had set up a special unit to check on soaring food prices.