PR manifesto is ‘hardly transformational’

(The Star) – Pakatan Rakyat’s manifesto has been described as “hardly transformational”. Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said the manifesto gave the impression that a Pakatan-run government would have a “bottomless” treasury, with little said on how its promises could be achieved.

“The manifesto may appeal to certain voter groups but it is hardly transformational,” he said in his blog khookaypeng.blogspot.com.

Khoo added that the document failed to explain how the Opposition would fund various subsidies, grants and other payments if it came to power.

He also said the manifesto did not focus on reform policies and seemed to suggest that money was the solution to Malaysia’s problems.

Khoo called it a “political document”, saying that it was aimed at pleasing various voter groups in the general election.

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Oil royalty blooper blamed on typo

The conspicuous absence of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as states entitled to full oil royalties in the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto was due to “human error”, says PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The Kuala Selangor MP attributed the oversight to a “typo”, saying that the final version included all oil-producing states.

“I’m not sure how this error came about but we are most certainly not excluding the other three states.”

However, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said it was “an error by the manifesto committee”.

“It should have read oil-producing states’, and this not only covers Sabah and Sarawak, but also Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.”

DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran admitted that an error had been made on the manifesto but said Pakatan would explain in detail at a press conference today.

The 10-point manifesto, which was revealed on Monday, has drawn flak for listing only Sabah and Sarawak as oil-producing states that will receive royalties from Petronas should the Opposition come to power.