Melaka residents could enjoy free domestic water for up to 20 cubic metres a month and a five-year freeze on land tax rates under the election manifesto unveiled by Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN).
BN Melaka chairman Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the manifesto features 113 initiatives built around six key pillars, covering public welfare, employment opportunities, housing, education, economic development and the future of young people.
The proposals are divided into three implementation periods — the first 100 days, one year and five years — depending on the scope and requirements of each initiative.
Among the key promises is a 30 per cent discount on chicken and meat purchases through the Jualan Mesra programme, which will be organised regularly.
The coalition is also targeting the construction of 25,000 affordable homes over five years, alongside loans of up to RM80,000 for those building houses on their own land.
Ab Rauf said the Melaka Rumahku programme would also continue, providing new homes and repair works for families in need.
He announced the pledges during the presentation of the BN-PN Melaka manifesto at the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) on Friday.
On economic development, the coalition is targeting RM30 billion in investments and 25,000 new jobs through the development of new industrial areas and high-technology economic sectors.
It also aims to provide training to more than 15,000 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, while positioning Melaka as a TVET hub to meet the industry’s workforce requirements.
In education, the RM1,000 assistance for Melaka students entering Universiti Melaka (UNIMEL) and Melaka Islamic University College (MiCOST) will be continued.
Students preparing for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations will also be offered free tuition classes.
Other education-related promises include transport fare assistance for pupils attending Kelas Al-Quran dan Fardu Ain (KAFA).
For young people, BN and PN plan to expand opportunities in the digital economy through free training in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), youth entrepreneurship grants, as well as the development of Melaka Digital and AI Hub.
On governance, Ab Rauf said the Wakil Rakyat Untuk Rakyat (WRUR) programme would continue across all 28 state constituencies.
The coalition also pledged to strengthen the HEBAT programme, improve the public complaints system and accelerate the digitalisation of government services.
Ab Rauf said the manifesto was designed to benefit all segments of society regardless of race or religion, in line with the principle of “No One Is Left Behind”.
He added that a review of the coalition’s previous manifesto commitments between 2021 and 2026 found that 97 per cent of the promises had been fulfilled.
He said the achievement would serve as an important foundation for ensuring that the latest pledges were implemented transparently and responsibly.
