Rights for all, match-making and housing discounts in PAS manifesto - The Star

KOTA BARU: PAS launched its general election manifesto promising development, rights for all races, match-making for women marrying late and a 20% discount in housing for the poor. Entitled, “Development In Line With Islam – Spearheading Changes For Blessings”, the manifesto pledged to make Tumpat its window to global trade by making it a business and tourist city through joint ventures.

The Islamist party also promised to develop Bachok as a tourist centre and create a knowledge centre in Gua Musang.

It said it planned to develop 2,000 acres in Gua Musang and Lojing for science, technology, economy, tourism and an Islamic centre.

For agriculture, the manifesto also identified the expensive agawood and biofuel for cars as a potential income generator.

To overcome the problem of women marrying late, the party pledged to use a matchmaking approach and lower the amount of mas kahwin (dowry).

The party also said women would be given 90 days' maternity leave and that there would be women village heads representing women's affairs in all districts and constituencies.

While the manifesto was silent on hudud law and the Islamic state concept, PAS said it would improve its anti-vice programmes by strengthening the enforcement agencies in the state. The party also said it would have village heads to represent each ethnic group.

For non-Muslims, it pledged that their rights were guaranteed without discrimination, as said in the Federal Constitution.

The party also promised that there would be no illegal clearing of land that would affect dams and clean water supply, while also promising to build parks and recreation centres in every town and housing estate.

It would also ensure that low-cost houses have three rooms and use the syariah system to formulate government policies on entertainment, culture, tourism, youth and women.

[From http://thestar.com.my/election/story.asp?file=/2008/2/25/election2008/20080225222207&sec=election2008]