KUALA LUMPUR: The opposition had fooled the people, especially youths, into believing many promises in the 14th General Election (GE14) but fulfilled none and left many in the lurch.
Caretaker Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the opposition offered hot air, unlike the 2023 Budget that was tabled by his then government in Parliament on Oct 7.
Ismail Sabri said under his care, the exemption of the repayment of National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loan for borrowers from the Bottom 40 group was expanded to the Middle 40 and Top 20 first class degree graduates.
“Youths who are first time home buyers but do not have payslips can now secure a government guarantee under the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme.
“Job opportunities are also available via the JaminKerja programme by the government.
“It differs (from ours) as in GE14, the youths were the most cheated with a manifesto of empty promises. The opposition failed to abolish PTPTN loans, no job creations and tens of thousands of youths were terminated from their jobs,” said Ismail Sabri in a Facebook post.
The 2023 Budget, he added, was not a manifesto of empty talk but cared for the people irrespective of ethnicities and ensured that no one is marginalised.
“It made history when for the first time the government gave women who give birth in 2023 a one-off RM500 cash aid under the CahayaMata Keluarga Malaysia programme,” he said.
Referring to a video he had posted on Barisan Nasional’s (BN) Solidariti Kestabilan dan Kemakmuran event in Kedah, Ismail Sabri expressed confidence for the coalition to recapture the state from Islamist party, Pas.
He said they were banking on the stability and prosperity BN could provide if it wins.-NST