KUALA LUMPUR, May 4 — PKR’s refusal to put forward a new manifesto for the Permatang Pauh by-election demonstrates the party’s “hubris”, non-governmental organisation Kuasa said today.

Pointing out that while the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate has presented his pledges for the poll, Kuasa chief executive Praba Ganesan said that PKR has instead chosen to recycle Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) Election 2013 manifesto for Penang.

“Pledges build a value expectation from voters, as they compare what the respective candidates offer when they choose who to vote for and a post-election method of evaluating whether the victor matches those pledges or fails the voters over the term,” Praba said.

“Relying on the Pakatan Rakyat Manifesto for Penang during GE13, which was two years ago, smacks of hubris.”

In comparison, he said BN candidate Suhaimi Sabudin’s manifesto allowed voters to know what to expect in the event he wins, which include pledges to extend federal facilities and improve things for small businesses and low-cost housing among others.

BN launched its manifesto last week with a focus on bringing more development and socio-economic improvement for the largely rural area.

BN did not escape Kuasa’s criticism, however, and was reproached for “flexing its federal powers” in portions of the manifesto that the group deemed cosmetic, such as promising increased police presence and RELA membership, as well as support for places of worship.

Praba noted that while PKR has consistently hit out at issues such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s second sodomy conviction, among others, it has yet to provide something specific for the voters to evaluate them.

The Permatang Pauh seat fell vacant after Anwar was jailed for his second sodomy charge on February 10.

PKR’s Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail is defending the PKR stronghold seat in a four-cornered fight with BN’s Suhaimi Sabudin, PRM’s Azman Shah Othman and independent candidate Salleh Isahak in the May 7 by-election.