GE 13 : Which Party Can Keep Our Multi-Racial, Multi-Religious Nation Peaceful and Prosperous?

The Barisan Nasional formula has helped Malaysia progress for 55 years as a harmonious, multi-racial country. Tolerance for the minority, and respect for the majority. Subsidies to those in need, regardless of race. Opportunities without regard to race or religion. Respect for Bumiputra privileges as a means to social equality, not superiority, and protection for minority rights.
It is also the formula Pakatan Rakyat has adopted in its manifesto. Yet, even while adopting BN's formula, they promise to end BN's "discriminatory" practices.
The evidence suggests that they are not being honest about their policies, and that therefore they will be unable to follow through on their promise to do exactly as BN has since Merdeka.
The first clue that Pakatan is not being honest about their policies is that they pretend that Article 153 of the Constitution does not exist. Neither the article nor its substance is mentioned in Pakatan's manifesto. Article 153 has been a source of some strife inside of Pakatan for years, with the DAP determined to work around it, PAS determined to preserve it, and PKR shifting, depending on Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's mood. If they cannot admit the constitutional requirement of Bumiputera privileges, how can they deal with it?
BN recognises that Article 153 exists and embraces it – with policy that both provides Bumiputera privileges and policies that work around it. Thus, the Iskandar Malaysia project is specifically exempt from Article 153's requirements, and under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, BN has transformed Government assistance to be needs-based, rather than race-based.
The entire 1Malaysia programme, such as BR1M, is targeted to the greater rakyat, rather than to Malays alone. Race-based subsidies are to be a temporary assistance, rather than a permanent crutch.
Bahasa Malaysia is the language of Malaysia, but vernacular and religious schools are supported as a part of the national system. This is a change from when Anwar was Education Minister and Chinese education was disadvantaged, but Najib has led on this issue since he took over that portfolio.
Pakatan claims to offer the same things in its manifesto, yet does not offer specific policies. If Pakatan intends to change the system as they claim, why can they not identify what changes they would make?
Pakatan's greater dishonesty is in its very parties. Policy is a good thing, but without the right personnel, it is empty. Who trusts the DAP to run a racially neutral policy? The party forced out its most prominent Malays and is running only Chinese candidates in its safest districts. Who can trust PAS to show tolerance for non-Muslims when its own governance in Kelantan was an attempt to enforce Islamic law on non-Muslims?
To keep a multi-racial, multi-religious nation peaceful and prosperous is a rare achievement. BN has shown the ability to craft a policy and identity for all Malaysians. Pakatan promises the same thing, but provides only proof that it will fail.