KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak wants leaders of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties to stop quarrelling among themselves openly and instead, focus on dealing with the opposition and regaining the people's confidence.Cautioning that open quarrels would only weaken the coalition, Najib, who is also the BN chairman, said it was important for BN to be united and seen to be united in the eyes of the people.
He said the opposition was telling a lot of lies and half-truths, adding that he was working round-the-clock to make BN strong, with plans to be unveiled, step by step.
"We must focus on what it takes to make BN strong... BN leaders should not quarrel with each other openly or in public... let us quarrel with the opposition. Why quarrel among BN leaders... tell me, why we should quarrel with each other?
"Our enemy is outside... our enemy wants our seat in the government... wants to go to Putrajaya. We must ensure BN remains in power. Why should we expose our own problem. Tell me, why do we need to shoot ourselves in the foot?
"No need to, because at the end of the day, what matters is that the BN serves the people and the people must see the BN in good light," he said in his opening speech at the People's Progressive Party (PPP) 57th annual general meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre here today.
Najib said BN had to form the goverment in the next general election and as such, every single BN component party had to play its part by making the coalition stronger so that the BN government could continue its plan to transform the country to become a more prosperous nation.
He said the opposition was problem-ridden but it was very good at covering them (problems) up.
'You fight the oppposition'
Najib told the PPP leadership that as BN chairman, he was always willing to listen to its problems.
"If you have got problems in BN, tell me. As chairman of BN, tell me (if) you don't like this person, you don't like that, quitely whisper to me but openly, you fight the opposition... You fight the PKR, DAP, PAS (but) you don't fight among us. What is the point?
"How can I help PPP if we (BN) are not in power? But PPP must help me... you can help me by focusing the energy not on BN but on fighting the opposition," he added.
Najib said wherever possible, he would accomodate PPP's interest, citing the recent appointment of its senior vice-president, Senator Maglin Dennis D'Cruz, as information communication and culture minister recently.
He said the PPP could not be a party to all Malaysians because the party was too small, but it could make itself very usefull to the people by finding its own niche areas.
"You cannot be a party like the big parties but you can have an appeal to a certain group within the country and that is what the PPP must find... its own niche areas in the country.
"It doesn't matter what kind of cat it is, as long as it catches the mice. The important thing is that BN is strong and well accepted by the people," he said.
On the 1Malaysia concept, Najib said the country needed a guiding philosophy -- a philosophy in the spirit of 1Malaysia.
"I feel proud because the 1Malaysia brand is the most popular brand in Malaysia today. We will make this as a guiding philosophy for Malaysia because when we mention 1Malaysia, automatically, we recognise the contributions of all Malaysians," he said.
Najib said he was committed and wanted to ensure that all Malaysians benefited from the development plans in the country, such as the recently-unveiled 10th Malaysia Plan.
"We believe that the only way Malaysia will be a strong and successful nation is when we are able to tap and harness the skill, strength, experience and the contribution of all Malaysians," he said.
About 3,000 party delegates attended the one-day PPP meeting.
Najib's arrival was greeted by party president M Kayveas, D'Cruz and other top leaders.
- Bernama
No comments:
Post a Comment