It’s Friday and probably less than 72 hours before the 2004 Malaysian general election gets underway. A few hundred miles northeastern of Malaysia, Taiwanese President was shot while campaigning ahead of the Taiwanese election. The Taiwanese President survived the assassination attempt and currently in a stable condition. Thanks to the shooter, I expect the current President to win the poll by a strong margin due to sympathetic voters.
Back to the equator, Barisan Nasional has revealed its manifesto earlier this week. It could be found at the party website at http://www.bn.org.my/.

Reading through the manifesto, it does take some time before the relevant points can be spotted. Apparently, judging through the colorful manifesto and comparing it to PAS and Keadilan’s version, Barisan Nasional has more than sufficient money in its coffer.
Before I begin reviewing BN’s manifesto, I must say that it’s not easy to pull out a point and categorize it into a class. In my opinion, BN’s manifesto failed to be as objective as its rival’s. Therefore, to save me time, I’ll review it page by page instead of classing the points.
I need to point out however, the later pages seems to be more orderly structured and it is easier to recognize whether a point concerns this or that or whatever it may be.

Warning – I find it tough to maintain an indifferent tone or sentence structure or being too objective. The reason is, well, you have to read the manifesto yourself. This surprises me greatly. Although I want to see BN wins but yet, I found myself laughing sarcastically after read the whole text.
In a way, it is sad to know that I am supporting a party of which I myself am laughing at the points written in its manifesto.

On the second page, "it says BN is for everyone". Means nothing but merely pointing out the fact that BN consists of 14 component parties; each component represents various ethic groups in Malaysia. It gives its words that each ethic groups will be properly represented in the decision making machine while ensuring lasting racial harmony. Sounds good but being a person that I am, though the goal is noble, I believe the way BN is ensuring the racial harmony in Malaysia is flawed and it will be a matter of time before the next May 13th erupt if things don’t change for the better. Here is where I believe UMNO should take up its founder's advice. Open up UMNO to other races or make BN as one party instead of an alliance consisted of 14 racially based parties. All in all, the second page is pure BS. It promises nothing and based its struggle on a concept that I am against with.

In the next page, the phrase "BN supports you" is written. What does that mean? I have no idea. Some further details explain that the coalition promises to combat corruption and improve public services. Though corruption in Malaysia is not as bad as in Indonesia or God forbid India, I don’t see how this may help BN since BN was there in the first place and BN is the only one that is accountable for the corruption in the government.
Others points are irrelevant or at its best, again, propaganda in nature. At worst, bullshit.

The fourth page seems to be a little bit a heavy in its points. However, basically this page promises to continue what BN has been doing – improving the country economy. I would say most things said here are the same things said by Keadilan and PAS though the minor details vary. It must be said, here the promises are general in nature and aren’t as precise as points presented by the opposition. Therefore, I would say this manifesto failed to set concrete promises. I am pretty much uninterested in promises that could be interpreted in many ways.
Apart of the general promises, two items caught my eyes. They are the concept of Islam hadhari and leadership in OIC and NAM. I would prefer a secular state but here, BN has shown that it has bent itself in order to combat PAS rising influence. Yet, a moderate Islamic nation is better than a fundamentalist state.
On international relationship, BN-led government excels in it. On the contrary, the opposition failed to address this.

The fifth page contains nothing worthwhile.

The page after it calls for some of the things where BN itself fails to do in the past. Most notably, safeguarding the interest of all Malaysians. During Tun Dr. Mahathir time, BN was everything but this. Things are yet to be seen under Abdullah Badawi.
It also talks about the separation of the country executive, judiciary and legislature arms between each other. Seeing how BN fails to separate itself from the government, I don’t see how BN could guarantee the full strength of the separation wall between those three divisions.
It’s only fair to say that most of the points said on this page won’t certain be done in the near foreseeable future.

Next. Redundancy. It touches again on corruption. Also, it pledges to reduce red tapes and promises good governance. Again I say, I am not interested in promises that could be deciphered in gamut of ways. Promises, especially manifestos need to be crisp and sharp. BN political advisors need to get that in their head. Though the masses are asses, they are clearly not so stupid. Digressing, I think most economists give the masses too much credit; not all masses are rational in their thinking.
However, one aim stands out – special commission to monitor police activities and establishment of public forum. Nevertheless, I would dare say that these commission and forum would be pro-BN. But yet, at the very least, it is a start for a more democratic society.

The eighth leaf concerns matters of economics. It starts with propaganda – track record is being presented. It looks good but I am still soured on how Thailand managed to outperform Malaysia in various economic indices. Malaysia in the past 21 or 24 months could have done better if it was not for politically motivated economic policies.
Disappointedly, it says nothing further of its planned economics policies. The manifesto only says that BN will be conservative in its spending, encourages small and medium scale enterprises, will develop rural areas, expands the market for Malaysian’s export and promotes sustainable management of natural resources. These words mean nothing without the presence of proper digits. The cheesiest statement is “…pursue economic growth strategies to achieve Vision 2020”.

The ninth leaf is on social development. It vows to fully eradicate poverty, of which it has been keeping on saying for more than a decade now. Generally, this page is comparable to what has been said in Keadilan and PAS’ joint manifesto minus the relevant figures.

On education, the only point worth noting here is the national school. Here, admirably it seeks to make a universal education stream for all races. This is quite the reverse of BN rival’s aim. I strongly support this though I expect there will be disagreement to this from among BN’s component parties.

On the sensitive religion issue, BN wants to build a progressive and modern Islamic nation. Here, I am quite bewildered to see BN veers from its secular path. Nevertheless, with no other reliable choice, as long as it acts against PAS’ fundamentalist dream, I have to agree with this. Progressive and modern Islamic nation it is.
Others, it wants to make Malaysia as a leader in Islamic financial system while at the same time, provide an alternative to modern financial system. Sounds okay. Nobody can really stop them from implementing it anyway. This might even helps the economy to reduce short term fluctuation dependent on interest rate.
One glaring BN’s position is the introduction of Arabic in elementary school. Not that I am against it but elementary students have already been burdened with too much load. I would like to see them play around a little bit rather than nurturing them into a good citizen-drone. In any case, I am neither against nor for this. As the Beatles put it in We Can Work It Out, only time will tell whether this is right or wrong.
The last point is about the Haj – it promises a more efficient system at cheaper cost. Two words, 8 letters: LMFAO, LOL.
If you’ll realize, this section touches only on Islam and this makes me wonder whether BN really is a secular party.

The next page is about civic and moral values. It touches corruption again for the gazillionth times. Further, it seeks to promote high civic consciousness through the national service. Total propaganda. Scrap the national service – I don’t want to be another Taiwan nor Singapore. If Taiwan or Singapore does it, it doesn’t mean Malaysia has to follow the same path those two countries are taking. If somebody eats shit, I don't expect Malaysia to eat shit too. And I thought Mahathir taught Malaysia this when he refused IMF's aid.
And ironically, it wants to promote a more open environment for NGOs.
I am speechless. BN must really thinks the masses are stupid as well as blind and deaf.
It is the government that needs to open up. The NGOs in Malaysia have tried to be opened but they have been suppressed to a certain degree by the BN-led government - the BN-led government doesn't even hear to the NGOs! Yet, BN seeks for a more NGO-friendly environment. Give me a fu-...
Ah! Let me rephrase that. Gimme a Kit Kat.

Page 13 is propaganda. Also, it’s the number 13. =)

On 14, foreign policy is given its due attention. So far, BN has been the only party that has given attention to matter directly related to foreign policy. Then again, most of the points here were mentioned in the earlier page.

Page 15, propaganda.

On the last page, they finally cut to the chase and urge people to vote for BN.

And unfortunately for the Malaysian people, there is a dearth of option and BN is the best choice. Keadilan is the next best option but as they say it in Malaysia and as I hate to say it, a vote for Keadilan is a vote for PAS. On DAP, it’s even better. A vote for DAP is a vote for PAS.

L M A O R O T F.

You gotta love Malaysian politics. So pathetic but yet, so entertaining.

p/s - proofread will come later.