PAS Kelantan Launches Manifesto

MACHANG, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- Pas today launched its manifesto for Kelantan theme "Develop with Islam, lead towards change and achieve blessings" and listed out nine changes it had brought after 18 years in power.

It said the changes were in administration and municipality, Islamic education, roles of a mosque, rights for all races, women's dignity, human development, housing, Islamic financial system and syariah legal system.

In the 28-page manifesto unveiled by the party's spiritual leader and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat here, Pas promises to extend maternity leave to three months for each birth and provide paid leave without limiting the number of children.

Nik Aziz said Pas wanted to retain the Islamic state concept it had been practising in Kelantan so that Barisan Nasional (BN) would emulate it.

Pas also underlines its promise to bring balanced development in the economy and socio-culture and better lives both here and hereafter.

On socio-culture development, Pas is determined to give priority to children's early education and build a "southern region knowledge centre" comprising a higher education college for women, international hut education centre and religious (Arabic) secondary school.

The party will also offer group takaful schemes for the teachers, staff and students of the Kelantan Islamic Foundation for free and introduce programmes to train, assist and guide women so that they can achieve socio-economic progress.

It will also set up a fund for women in business and build sports complex for women complete with a stadium and mosque.

Pas also promises to implement public health programmes and strengthen the roles of village ICT centres.

On land development, Pas promises to allot residential land to all people, expand the roles of the Kelantan People's Plantation Development Corporation, provide land to the poor to operate commercial farms and draw investors.

-- BERNAMA