Wednesday January 30, 2013

Muhyiddin: Think carefully about calls for a change of government

By SHARON LING
sharonling@thestar.com.my

Up close: Muhyiddin (right) giving a speech during his breakfast with the people at the Kota Sentosa market yesterday.

KUCHING: The people should think carefully about calls to change the Government because this could bring about more problems instead of improvement, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said.

He said any move to change the Government just for the sake of change would not be beneficial, particularly for the business community.

“Be careful when people say change this Government. You must think carefully, especially businessmen.

“If you change the government and things become worse, what then?” he said during a walkabout and breakfast with the people at the Kota Sentosa market here yesterday.

Muhyiddin said although the Barisan Nasional Government had been in power for many years, this did not mean it was time for a change.

On the contrary, he said this meant Barisan had plenty of experience in running the country and meeting the people’s expectations.

“We know that the Barisan Government has been helping the people for many years. It doesn’t matter that this Government has been in place for a long time.

“We are not old but experienced, whereas the Pakatan Rakyat government is not experienced. Just ask the people of Selangor who say it is now more difficult to do business there,” he said.

He also assured traders and hawkers that the Barisan Government was pro-business, with policies to ensure political stability and a conducive environment for business to flourish.

For instance, he said the Government provided incentives and assistance for traders and investors.

“Loans are available for small traders who lack capital, while local authorities facilitate business by approving licences and providing trading venues.

“There are also incentives for investors because when investment flows in, there will be jobs and people can earn a living. All this is provided by the government and what’s important now is to sustain this,” he said.

Muhyiddin, who is on a three-day visit to Sarawak, also announced a RM500,000 allocation for upgrading the mini town square in Kota Sentosa.

Earlier he walked around the market to meet traders before having a Sarawak-style breakfast with dishes such as laksa, tapai and kuih selorot.

He was accompanied by Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin, state Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Public Health Assistant Minister Dr Jerip Susil, Local Government and Community Development Assistant Minister Datuk Peter Nansian, Padawan Municipal Council chairman Lo Khere Chiang and Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sarawak president Datuk Wee Kok Tiong.

Also present was SUPP Youth secretary-general Wilfred Yap, the party’s proposed candidate for Stampin in the parliamentary election.

Meanwhile, SUPP secretary-general Dr Sim Kui Hian said Muhyiddin’s visit to the market showed that the Barisan Government had changed its approach to meet the people.

“Instead of waiting for people to come to the office, we go to the people on the ground,” he said, adding that the breakfast was an opportunity for community leaders, members of chambers of commerce and the public to meet the Deputy Prime Minister.

News

Wednesday January 30, 2013

Muhyiddin: Think carefully about calls for a change of government

By SHARON LING sharonling@thestar.com.my

By SHARON LING
sharonling@thestar.com.my