Saturday August 11, 2012

‘Sarawak will stay in BN’

KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak believes that Sarawak will remain in Barisan Nasional territory in the coming general election.

With unity among BN component parties and cooperation between the central and state governments, under Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Barisan will succeed again in Sarawak, said Najib.

“We've discussed many matters and have mutual respect and understanding between the central and state governments, there's nothing that cannot be resolved,” he said during the breaking of fast at the Sarawak State Assembly building in Petra Jaya, here yesterday.

Also present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Taib Mahmud and about 1,000 guests.

Religious duty: Najib praying after paying tithes at the Putra Mosque in Putrajaya as his staff members look on. — Bernama

Najib attributed Sarawak's progress under Barisan's leadership to these factors.

Commenting on Taib Mahmud's remark that he was a young and vigorous Prime Minister, he said, “I appreciate that comment because he mentioned a very important touch point. Maybe I am not so young anymore but I try to be as vigorous as possible.”

The underlying message was that we must be a government that cares for the common people, he said, adding that leaders at all levels, including state assemblymen and Members of Parliament, must work hard, especially with the touch point allocations at their disposal.

Najib and Rosmah were in Sarawak for a one-day visit.

They arrived at Kuching International Airport at 4.45pm and were met on arrival by Taib Mahmud, state ministers and officials.

Pamg Joheng, father of national diver Pandelela Rinong, who won the bronze medal in the Women's 10m Platform final of the London 2012 Olympics, was also present.

The Prime Minister will visit Sabah today. He said Sabah will continue to be a top priority in the country's development.

Writing in his 1Malaysia blog, Najib said he hoped Sabahans would continue to support him in achieving this objective.

“When the sun rises over Malaysia, it shines first on Sabah. Just as my father was committed to bringing North Borneo into the fold for mutual benefit, I am committed to repaying the goodwill that my eastern brothers have shown the country.

The state, said Najib, had contributed much to Malaysia's growth in the last 49 years, adding that tourism alone contributed almost RM5bil to the country last year with over 2.8 million tourist arrivals a 13.6% rise from 2010.

“The country owes much to its contribution and the Government has in turn prioritised its welfare through the Government Transformation Programme,” he said.

More News