Published: Thursday February 21, 2013 MYT 11:30:00 PM
Updated: Thursday February 21, 2013 MYT 11:41:49 PM

Najib: Chinese community has gained much from BN govt's inclusive policies

By CALVIN YEO

KUCHING: The Barisan Nasional government has been inclusive in whatever it does as it wants to engage the Chinese community.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said it was due to this inclusiveness that the Chinese community had gained much from government policies.

"The Chinese community is doing well because of its hard work and entrepreneurial skills.

"It is also because of the Barisan policies that created opportunities for the economy to grow," he said when addressing more than 10,000 people at the Chinese New Year gathering here Thursday night.

In his speech drumming up support for Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Najib said the Barisan government had also been liberal in its education policies where it had allowed the existence of Chinese schools.

He said the upcoming 13th general election would be a litmus test for Barisan and SUPP.

"Your choice will affect the destiny and determine the future of Malaysia.

"Do you want the transformation agenda which has shown results and recognised worldwide to continue? This will be at stake in the coming GE13," he said.

He pointed out that the Chinese community would need a meaningful representation at both the federal and state governments in order for them to play a significant role in the formulation of government policies and the economic transformation agenda.

Taking a swipe at the Opposition, Najib said Pakatan Rakyat comprised people who had been pulling themselves in different directions with different fundamentals and ideologies.

"The question is, are you willing to gamble and destroy the future of our children (by voting the Opposition) in the coming GE?"

Acknowledging that the Barisan government had its shortcomings, he said if it was as bad as the Opposition had painted, then the country would not have posted an economic growth of 6.4% for the last quarter as well as attracted huge investments.

"The Opposition will continue to demonise and paint a bad picture of the Barisan.

"However, I assure you that we will deliver to make our country a fully developed nation by 2020.

"This is my commitment as we are going for a fair, equitable and inclusive development," he said.

He said the federal Barisan government would continue working closely with the state Barisan government to ensure the state continued to enjoy a better and brighter future.

Earlier, Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud urged the people to give Najib a strong mandate to lead the nation again.

He said this was important to put the country on a firmer track towards the realisation of its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2020.

Pulling his weight behind SUPP, Taib also called on the younger generation to support the party in the party's efforts to rejuvenate itself through the changing of guard.

News

Published: Thursday February 21, 2013 MYT 11:30:00 PMUpdated: Thursday February 21, 2013 MYT 11:41:49 PM

Najib: Chinese community has gained much from BN govt's inclusive policies

By CALVIN YEO

Published: Thursday February 21, 2013 MYT 11:30:00 PM
Updated: Thursday February 21, 2013 MYT 11:41:49 PM