PAPAR: Barisan Nasional (BN) will outline plans to rebuild Sabah as part of its election manifesto, said coalition chief Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said the coalition would focus on addressing issues related to roads, electricity and water supply.
He added that the plan is aligned with BN‘s election tagline, #BikinSabahBalik, as these three infrastructure problems have burdened the people for many years.
Zahid, who is also the deputy prime minister, said the manifesto would also cover matters involving investment and housing.
“For the youth, the manifesto touches on investments, tourism, and other areas where Sabah has been trailing behind.
“About 17 per cent of Sabah’s young people, or some 165,000 individuals, are unemployed. More than 300,000 Sabahans are currently working in Pasir Gudang, while over 250,000 are in the Klang Valley.
“We want Sabah’s young people to work in Sabah, and we will create industries through investments brought into the state. Hopefully, they will be able to support their families here,” he told the media after the Sentuhan Kasih Desa@Papar programme at Lok Kawi Heights.
As chairman of the National Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Council, he said TVET education would be emphasised in Sabah to address unemployment.
Zahid said Sabah BN chairman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin would announce the manifesto tomorrow.
When asked why the coalition decided to reveal it in the middle of the election campaign, he said the manifesto had actually been ready before nomination day on Nov 15. However, he requested for its launch to be postponed as part of a media strategy.
“Once the campaign period begins, after a week, people will want to know about our manifesto. Even though it was completed earlier, the timing is right because Saturday provides better coverage in print media for Sunday,” he added.
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