SEREMBAN: Leaders of political parties in the unity government gathered for the first time since campaigning started to give their commitment to the pact and to give moral support to candidates from Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional .
Present at the Jelajah Madani Negri Sembilan event with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, were leaders from Barisan, Pakatan, Gabungan Parti Sarawak and Gabungan Parti Sabah.
Among those present were Umno president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu senior vice-president Datuk Seri Fadhillah Yusof and GRS' Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
ALSO READ: State polls: Anwar urges the retention of Aminuddin as Negri Menteri Besar
The leaders were at the event to support unity government candidates and particularly those contesting in Ampangan, Paroi, Labu and Lenggeng
Anwar said the presence of two deputy prime ministers with him at the same event showed how committed the leaders were to the unity government.
"This is what we call mature politics.
"We are here because we adhered to the King's advise.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim addressing the crowd at the Jelajah Madani Negri Sembilan event.
"We (political parties) may have had our differences in opinion but we agreed to work together as do not want the country and the people to be adversely affected (if there is no stable government)," he said.
Ahmad Zahid who is also Deputy Prime Minister told the crowd that the Pakatan and Barisan pact will remain intact for years to come.
"There has never been a Prime Minister who has shown concern for the need to repair and upgrade toilets in schools or government clinics as the country's top leader will normally handle international or other major issues.
"With a PM like Anwar, it is not impossible that Kelantan will fall to the Pakatan-Barisan pact in the coming polls after 33 years," he said adding that there were winds of change in favour of parties in the unity government based on his recent visits to Kelantan, Kedah and Terengganu.
Fadillah, who is Deputy Prime Minister II aid GPS was present at the event to show its commitment to the unity government.
"When the King suggested the setting up of a unity government, we agreed to be part of it because we wanted a stable government which will be able to rejuvenate the economy.
"It is only through stability that we can attract investors and then come up with programmes for the peoples' benefit," he said.
Fadhillah urged the people to vote candidates from the unity government in Negri Sembilan so that it was aligned with the federal administration.
"This will benefit the people of the state and you will have a strong state government," he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the unity government had been working hard over the past eight months to come up with initiatives to help the people.
"I am in the Cabinet and I know how hard the Prime Minister works.
"Our detractors say those in the unity government have different ideologies but I am glad to say that despite this, we can reach a meeting point so that this country is stable and we can together work for the betterment of the people," he added.
