BN Determined To Wrest Back Selangor - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, March 12 (Bernama) -- The difficulties faced by the people of Selangor the last five years has made the Barisan Nasional (BN) all the more determined to wrest the state back from the opposition in the upcoming 13th general election, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said the BN was not solely after power, but instead if the mandate were given to it to lead Selangor again, the coalition would ensure the people of Selangor enjoyed development brought by the federal government so that they need not be mired in all sorts of problems.

"We have seen that if the federal and state government are not from the same party, a lot of problems wil crop up... problems that should not be politicised like water supply.

"...the government's aim to ensure adequate water supply through the Langat 2 project till today has not been able to take off because the Selangor government will not issue the development order," he said on the 'Conversation With The PM' programme aired by private television station TV3 Tuesday night.

Because of this, the Prime Minister said the federal government was forced to spend RM600 juta and added RM121 million more to find short term solutions to resolve water woes faced by the people of Selangor.

"If we don't (recapture Selangor), it will make life more difficult for the people. Many development projects (in the state) are delayed now because water supply cannot be guaranteed. This inconveniences the people and stunts the nation's growth," he said.

The Prime Minister also said that the provision of the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) was not an election gimmick as made out by the opposition.

It was a government initiative to help those earning RM3,000 and below a month to lighten their burden, he said.

On another note, Najib said since the government launched Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (Talent Corp) to bring home talented Malaysians from abroad, a total 1,600 individuals had returned to work in the country in 2011 and 2012.

He said the figure was something to be proud of as in the 10 years before 2011, only 1,100 Malaysian professionals returned from abroad to work in the country.