Wednesday August 20, 2008

Committment is the priority

By SHARON LING

KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi called on the wives of Barisan Nasional elected representatives to serve the people regardless of whether their husbands still held positions in government or not.

He said they should continue to serve and help the less fortunate, not just when times were easy.

“It’s more difficult when your husbands are no longer holding positions in government. In this situation, your commitment to carry on doing good works through your respective associations shows that you truly have a heart to serve the people,” he said during a dinner in conjunction with the annual programme for the wives of Barisan elected representatives here recently.

Jeanne (left) seen here chatting with the pupils from Sekolah Kebangsaan Pendidikan Khas.

The four-day programme, which began on Sunday, was organised by the Association of Ministers and Deputy Ministers Wives (Bakti) and the Sarawak Association of Ministers and Assistant Ministers Wives (Sabati).

Abdullah singled out the wives of Barisan representatives from Penang, Perak, Kedah, Selangor and Kelantan for their efforts in continuing to do charitable works and participating in Bakti’s activites.

“We hope Bakti’s work will still be carried out in every state in Malaysia, regardless of whether Barisan is the ruling party in the state,” he said.

He also said Bakti members should take every opportunity to do good.

“We only live once. When we have the time to do good, we might as well do it,” he said.

On another matter, he thanked Sarawakians for their strong support for Barisan.

“They have never forgotten to vote for Barisan. We may be far apart geographically but we are close at heart,” he said, adding that he believed Sarawak would continue to enjoy progress and development in the years to come.

Earlier Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said Barisan MPs from the state would not cross over to the Opposition for the sake of power or personal gain.

“We are hurt when we hear people say we will jump. We cannot be bought and we cannot be ordered by others to jump,” he said, adding that Sarawak had achieved progress thanks to the efforts of the Barisan government.

They each received RM5,000 from Sabati and RM6,000 from Bakti and the other wives’ associations.

Abdullah’s wife, Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah who was present at the function said that the event gave them the opportunity to work together.

“Our husbands take care of the country and we take care and try to touch the hearts of the people,” she said.

Source:

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