The ruling Barisan Nasional is going to the polls with the message that only it can provide the insurance for a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Sarawak.

In its election manifesto - published in Iban, Chinese, Malay and English - for the Sarawak's 9th state election, the coalition promises that all Sarawakians will be given equal opportunities to be involved in the development of the natural resources-rich state.

The state's longest-serving chief minister, Abdul Taib Mahmud, unveiled the manifesto at his Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) headquarters in Kuching yesterday when he released the names of BN candidates for the May 20 polls. Nomination Day is tomorrow, May 9.

The BN manifesto also promises that every group in Sarawak would be 'accounted for regardless of ethnic background and religion'.

An unusual aspect of the manifesto is the declaration that BN values and listens to the people's opinions, said Taib. However, he did not elaborate on this.

'There is a fair and equitable sharing of the fruits of economic development," says the manifesto in what is seen as an indication that government projects would not be concentrated in certain areas or only benefit certain groups.

Taib spoke of the BN being very serious in carrying out development plans to achieve developed status by the year 2020.

The manifesto touches on all aspects of socio-economic development aimed at creating political stability, inter-racial harmony and visionary development.

Stressing that only the BN can guarantee a peaceful, progressive and prosperous Sarawak, it seeks to build a modern state through close cooperation with the federal government.

The manifesto also emphasises on modern technological development, high-tech and bio-tech industries to be developed over the next 10 years.

Opposition manifesto

Meanwhile, the opposition Barisan Bersatu Sarawak's (BBS) election manifesto says it is committed to bringing changes to the political environment in Sarawak.

The BBS wants to build a new Sarawak for all Sarawakians that will "allow them their rightful and proud position in the Malaysian entity, and to ensure justice, freedom and equality of treatment, fair distribution of wealth and equal opportunity for all Sarawakians, irrespective of race, culture, creed or religion".

But the main crux of the BBS manifesto is on land issues, especially native customary rights, which its leaders claim have been violated to the benefit of ruling politicians and large corporations, especially from outside Sarawak.

The largely bumiputera BBS opposition front - comprising Snap, Star, PKR and yet-to-be-registered MDC - along with two other opposition parties, DAP and PAS, will be contesting in probably all the 71 seats up for grab.

Observers do not discount one or two candidates may pull out at the last minute.

Commenting on the BN manifesto, a senior academic with a local university told malaysiakini: "It is full of meaningless rhetoric and some aspects of it are bitterly ironic, especially when you consider that Taib has nominated his own brother (businessman Ali Mahmud) as one of the candidates."

On the BN manifesto that "all Sarawakians will be given equal opportunities to be involved in Sarawak's development," BBS advisor and former deputy chief minister Daniel Tajem argued this was "an old story that has been heard since the inception of Malaysia in 1963".

"Language is one thing, translating it into reality is quite another," he said, pointing the lack of development and neglect of the rural community, especially the Dayak, by the present government.

Tajem, who is the de facto leader among the Dayak opposition groups which will be contesting in 29 Dayak majority seats, said he sensed the mood of the rural people has changed.