Page 83 - PH Manifesto English

A group that is often forgotten by UMNO and Barisan Nasional is the

Chinese living in rural areas and in new villages. Pakatan Harapan is aware

of the challenges they face and has their welfare at heart.

New villages and Chinese fishing villages are an important part of Malaysia's

historical and cultural landscape. Most of these villages, especially those

located in rural areas, suffer from exodus of its young people to the cities

due to the lack of economic and employment opportunities there. Today

there are more than 600 new settlements in Malaysia, of which over 450

were formed during the emergency period in Malaya.

The Pakatan Harapan Government will provide a fixed allocation of RM 60

million a year (which is three times more than what was allocated by UMNO

and Barisan Nasional) in our first term of administration.

Spending will be on infrastructure improvements such as roads, community

halls and other public spaces. Funds will also be channelled to help villagers

obtain land titles so that they can renovate their property. The main element

of this fund is that the community itself will determine how to spend the

money.

The Pakatan Harapan Government will also provide low interest lending rate

to help small businesses that are the main employment generators in these

villages. These loans are expected to attract entrepreneurs who want to

invest in in these historical and cultural villages.

82