Mohamad Hasan: BN manifesto revives stalled development agenda, not 'deferred' plans

BARISAN Nasional (BN) deputy chairman Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan has rejected suggestions that the coalition's manifesto for the Negeri Sembilan state election consists of "deferred" plans, insisting instead that it revives development initiatives that were stalled after BN lost power in 2018.

Mohamad said it was important to distinguish between projects that had been deliberately postponed and those that had been interrupted following a change of government.

“If they were deferred, it would mean we chose to postpone them. But we lost. 'Stalled' is the correct term,” he told a press conference after the launch of BN's election manifesto in Seremban  yesterday.

The Negeri Sembilan BN chairman said several high-impact projects planned during BN's previous administration had not been properly implemented after the coalition lost power, with some deviating from their original objectives.

Mohamad, who is also Foreign Minister, also dismissed claims that BN's manifesto had incorporated ideas from Perikatan Nasional (PN), following remarks by PN information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa suggesting that the two coalitions' manifestos could be merged.

He stressed that BN's proposals were the product of the coalition's own long-term planning and experience, without input from external parties.

“This is the continuation of our own work. PN did not even exist at that time,” he said.

In his speech at the manifesto launch, Mohamad said the document reflected BN's determination to restore Negeri Sembilan's standing as a leading investment destination.

He said the coalition aimed to revive the state's vision as a centre of knowledge, continue FELDA development programmes, strengthen support for farmers, fishermen and livestock breeders, accelerate the construction of affordable housing, improve the efficiency of public services and resume BN policies that had stalled after 2018.

“We are not here to tear things down. We are here to repair them. We are not here to experiment. We are here with the experience to get the job done,” he said.

Barisan Nasional (BN) has unveiled an 88-point manifesto for the 16th Negeri Sembilan state election, centred on nine strategic pillars and backed by 15 Salam Sejahtera initiatives, with a pledge to establish a dedicated unit to monitor and implement its election promises if elected.

Mohamad said the coalition aims to attract RM30 billion in investments over the next five years and create 50,000 new jobs as part of its economic agenda.

Among its key pledges are the construction of 25,000 affordable homes and 1,000 village housing lots, while guaranteeing there will be no increase in assessment rates for five years.

The manifesto also targets 22 million domestic and international tourist arrivals annually, the creation of 5,000 tourism-related jobs, and the preservation of 155,000 hectares of permanent forest reserves.

Under the Salam Sejahtera Scheme, BN pledged RM200 in SSPN contributions and RM200 cash assistance for every newborn in Negeri Sembilan, RM500 for students entering fully residential schools, financial aid of between RM300 and RM1,500 for graduates, and cash assistance of RM200 for senior citizens aged 65 and above, rising to RM300 for those aged 75 and above. - July 25, 2026