Choose wrongly at nation’s peril, Najib warns voters
By A Ruban, The Star
SHAH ALAM: Choose the wrong side in the coming general election and risk the nation going downhill, warned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Citing Barisan Nasional’s impressive track record, Najib said only the current coalition knew how to rule the nation and take it to greater heights.
“If we miscalculate and choose the wrong side, our country could very much end up like Greece. What Barisan built today could be destroyed in a flash if the wrong side rules the country tomorrow.
“We may be strong now and we may have good resources, but we could face a similar predicament like Greece if the wrong side is chosen,” he said at the Islamic Propagation and Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Pekida) assembly here yesterday.
Referring to the Opposition as “they”, Najib said most plans made by them were against the nation’s development and focused more on seizing power.
“They are not in power yet but are already criticising the Malay rulers and expressing hope to change the Jalur Gemilang.
“In the civil service, they have said that hundreds of civil servants would be stopped from working when they come to power,” he added.
Unlike the Opposition, Najib said Barisan was concentrating on developing the nation for the benefit of the people.
He cited the RM100 assistance to students and RM500 to all households with incomes of less than RM3,000 as among the good deeds done by the Barisan government.
“Poor families and students are given assistance. There’s more room for improvement, especially in the rural areas.
“For this, we will continue to ensure that the gap between the rich and poor is narrower,” he said.
Najib added that he was confident that Barisan would triumph once again in the coming election.
“As a prime minister, I will continue to do the best for the people and we will not step back.
“We will show that Barisan can do it because only with us, you can dream of a fisherman’s son or farmer’s son to be a minister or CEO of a big company,” Najib said, pointing at Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Minister Datuk Seri Noh Omar, who he said came from a poor family.
Commenting on the assembly, Najib said it was the job of Pekida to ensure that Malay rights were taken care of.
He noted that Pekida had been on track and had been doing a good job in championing Malay rights.
“Pekida must continue to flex its muscles and bring up the Malays in the country,” he said.