National reconciliation talks okay but no deal on unity government, says Najib

Putrajaya is open to holding talks with all parties to promote national reconciliation through unity and consensus in the country but this will not include the formation of any sort of unity government with the opposition, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak (pic) said.

Najib said the Barisan Nasional had been given a “strong mandate” by the people to govern at the last general election and it intended to do this.

“However, we must look at becoming more inclusive in our activities and events. We are open to talking to all parties and we can use Parliament, including the setting up of bi-partisan committees to discuss issues affecting national unity,” he said in a statement tonight in response to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call for bipartisan talks on Sunday.

On Monday, Najib had said he will discuss Anwar’s call with the Cabinet today at its weekly meeting.

Anwar had appealed for national consensus with the ruling coalition amid religious and racial tension which he described as having reached pre-May 13 race riots level.

"We have not seen this building up of tension since the events leading up to our national tragedy of May 13, 1969.

"The voices of hate and animosity, the voices of prejudice and suspicion, and the voices of wreck and ruin are attempting to drown out the harmony, cooperation and understanding that we have managed to build on the ruins of this tragedy," Anwar had said in a special address in Subang last Sunday.

Najib said over the next few months, the country will see changes that will help make Malaysia a stronger, more united and cohesive nation.

The prime minister added that today’s Cabinet meeting had examined a plan to develop and promote an environment which is conducive to and will help promote national reconciliation through unity and consensus in the country.

"I had mooted this idea following the general election but various parties were not conducive to my appeal to come together. The legitimacy of the elections were even questioned by them and it was proven to be baseless.

"I am now heartened to see that the opposition is calling for a consensus and I am sure that they will welcome this new development.

"Unlike vague ideas about a consensus, the government’s national reconciliation plan will be based on four key thrusts namely, social, political, government and international relations," Najib said.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, when contacted, said his colleagues responded positively when Najib raised the matter at today’s Cabinet meeting.

“We are okay with anything that is for the good of the country. Many of us have doubts about his (Anwar’s) sincerity but we cannot dismiss it,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Nazri said the Cabinet had decided that Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, who is the Federal Territories Minister and Barisan Nasional secretary-general, would get in touch with the Pakatan Rakyat.

“As things stand now, the suggestion from the opposition leader is general. There are no specifics and things will move once Ku Nan (Tengku Adnan) gets in touch with Pakatan officials,” he said.

However, Nazri said the Cabinet did not set a deadline or a time frame for the bipartisan dialogue. – January 29, 2014.