Like BN, PAS should stop offering goodies

PR politicians must rise above the fray and explain their policies to win over support, not resort to inducements and handouts to get votes — which is their criticism of BN.

The Malaysian Insider

In the run up to GE13, the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has criticised and continues to criticise Barisan Nasional (BN) for their bag of handouts and goodies for the electorate.

Not only that, PR slammed the Najib administration for the rising national debt and promised they would do better.

Last night, the PAS candidate for Putrajaya, Datuk Husam Musa, did better, he offered tax-free status to civil servants in Grade 41 and below.

Really, is that the way to go to win votes? Yes, it is an uphill battle in Putrajaya but is offering goodies or using Islam to say that taxes should only be collected from the rich the way to run a country?

He also promised to lower other taxes and reiterated the pledge to cut the four per cent interest for government housing loans.

All this is well and good in the heat of the election campaign. The stark reality is that this will add to the national debt unless PR can find ways of cutting the fat from the budget.

PR politicians must rise above the fray and explain their policies to win over support, not resort to inducements and handouts to get votes — which is their criticism of BN.

Otherwise, they are no different from BN and voters would go for the tried and tested rather than the promise of change. Or rather more handouts.

This isn’t a battle of handouts and who is a better Santa Claus. This is a battle for a better Malaysia — something which both coalitions talk about but still resort to old ways of getting to it.