Barisan Alternatif (BA) was able to launch its election manifesto for Kedah this week because the two allies, PAS and Parti Rakyat Keadilan (Keadilan), managed to reach a consensus on the matter smoothly and quickly.

"We didn't encounter any major problems in drafting the manifesto. All of us in the drafting committee are young people and we managed to complete it very fast," Kedah PAS deputy commissioner Mohamad Sabu said.

He said that the early launching of the manifesto will be an advantage for the BA in its preparations for the coming elections.

The manifesto was launched by Opposition Leader and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang on Wednesday in Kedah. It was the first to be unveiled by the opposition following the coalition's plan to have separate manifesto in four states.

Mohamad Sabu who is also Kuala Kedah MP said negotiations between PAS and Keadilan have been going on smoothly at state level and any disagreement will be left to the federal leaders to thrash out with their counterparts in the states.

"So far, there has not been any major hiccups," he added.

Non-Muslims interests

At Wednesday's launching, it was also announced that PAS will contest in 10 parliamentary and 27 state seats in Kedah while Keadilan will contest in five parliamentary and nine state seats.

In the10-page manifesto, a copy of which was made available to malaysiakini today, the interests of non-Muslims and women are assured under the 15-point manifesto.

Among others, the manifesto promised that women and non-Muslims will also be appointed as state executive councillors if the opposition assumes power in Kedah after the next general election.

It will also promote mother tongue language in schools and assist the development of Tamil and Chinese schools based on the state government's "affordability".

Apart from vernacular schools, the people's religious school or Sekolah Agama Rakyat will also be given special assistance as a replacement to the grant per capita, in which the federal government had stopped giving since last year.

15 other areas

The manifesto also covers 15 areas including administration, Muslim affairs, non-Muslim rights, education, economy, land and state's revenue, agriculture, human development, local authority, development and basic infrastructure, women affairs, welfare and social development, youth, sports and recreation, and tourism and environmental.

The manifesto also states that the state government will stop issuing gambling premise licences, but will allow liquor and pork selling based on needs.

Allowances and excessive benefits given to the menteri besar and state executive council members will be reduced and it will also implement the five-day working days system for civil servants.

A women's organisation will be set up in every district to provide leadership training for women while the government will establish nursing centres in work places.

"Full-time" housewives will be recognised as a "profession" and the BA promises to provide economic opportunities for them. It also seeks to control any form of "exploitation" against women for commercial or other purpose.

The manifesto also promises land for Kedah-born people with low premium for them to build houses. It also vows to focus on the agricultural industry and promises to hold dialogues and briefings with people from time to time.

In the 1999 general election, the Barisan Nasional (BN) lost eight parliamentary and 12 state seats in Kedah to PAS. The state has 15 parliamentary and 36 state seats.