Penang Barisan Nasional (BN) today launched its state manifesto, themed “Save Penang: Penang BN Pledges” for the 14th general election (GE14).
The manifesto outlines six core pledges, with 60 initiatives to be implemented if BN were to wrest Penang from the opposition. Among them are:
Pledge 1: To solve flood and bald hill issues within 3.5 years
- Stop hill, high land development 250 feet above sea level.
- Make areas above 250 feet above sea level as permanent forest reserve.
- Install water pump, floodgates to channel floodwaters from hotspot area.
- Introduce Penang Flood Mitigation Plan, tree planting on hill sides.
Pledge 2: To solve people’s housing issue, 65,000 affordable houses to be built within 5 years.
- To ensure developers build 30 per cent quota of low cost, low-medium cost, PPR in same location, as part of whole project.
- Provide Rent-to-Own Housing Scheme, price set at RM40, 000
- Provide medium cost house unit between RM80, 000 to RM120, 000
- Provide public housing rental scheme for poor and disabled.
- Provide special quota for single women, single moms to own low-cost/ affordable house.
- Provide “interest free fund” for eligible low cost, low-medium cost and PPR buyers.
- Provide to cancel further land reclamation at Permatang Damar Laut, Gurney Drive, retain agricultural land status.
Pledge 3: To solve traffic congestion issues within 3 years.
- Cancel undersea tunnel project between Bagan Ajam and Gurney Drive.
- Build interchange at congested traffic locations.
- Re-study effectiveness of traffic dispersal system in city centre.
- Increase efficiency of public transport system, “park and ride” facilities.
- Create Traffic Dispersal Plan, build multi-storey carparks in critical areas.
Pledge 4: Economic development
- Develop economic, trading activities via One Belt, One Road (OBOR).
- Set up Halal Hub for medical devices industries, pharmaceutical, healthy food, supplement for export.
- Encourage growth, simplify transformation of SME into MNC.
- Set up infrastructure, talent development to face Industrial Revolution 4.0.
- Set up one ‘e-trade platform’ for young people to venture into business.
- Absorb MPSP, MBPP contract workers as permanent employees.
- Eliminate privatisation system of hawker sites, stalls and temporary sites.
- Increase land bank.
- Reduce rent to RM10 for market hawker sites, stalls, temporary hawker.
- Modernise morning/night market, setup Digital and Robotic Industrial Zone.
Pledge 5: People’s welfare
- Create Prosperous Family Complex in each district
- Abolish water surcharge, postage charge, other charges for bill payment.
- Free water supply to those below the poverty line.
- Reduce charges for water disconnection and reconnection.
- Assist Resident Management Corporation with bill arrear issues
- No water tariff increase for residences within 5 years
- Abolish toll charges for motorcycles.
- Provide school bus subsidy to eligible family
- Provide community ambulance services in rural areas
- Waive land tax, assessment for low-cost, medium-cost and village houses
- Provide RM2,000 special fund for first time married couples
- Free parking for the first 2 hours at MBPP and MPSP roadside parking
- 50 per cent reduction on existing parking rate after first 2 hours
- Free parking in housing areas
- RM15 million fund annually for national type, religious and private schools
- Increase senior citizen aid to RM300 per year, payment of RM150 every 6 months
- Re-introduce the traffic warden in school areas
- Annual grant of RM3,000 to primary School PIBG, RM5,000 to alumni society
- Appoint 50 per cen
t of City Councillors from independent bodies
- Create Penang Education Foundation to pay university admission fee to those eligible.
Pledge 6: Tourism and heritage
- Encourage more direct flights, total stopovers of cruise ships in Penang.
- Limit sales of heritage building to foreigners.
- Preserve status of Georgetown as UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Create “Penang Food Heaven” zones and improve food tourism activities.
- Revive, upgrade “ Living Heritage”, Artisan Streets at George Town World Heritage sites
- Maintain, conserve, Penang historical buildings and create World Musical Fiesta Tour.