SANDAKAN: All Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, including the small parties, are crucial at ensuring a big win for the coalition in the coming general election, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said yesterday.
“With not many more days left, we can’t afford to be at loggerheads. We have to move as a team to achieve victory,” he added.
Speaking at the opening of the Liberal Democratic Party Congress here yesterday, Najib, who is BN chairman, said he appreciated the loyalty shown by LDP which had been a component member of the BN since two decades ago.
Also present at the function were the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, LDP president Datuk VK Liew and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Najib welcomed Mahathir’s presence at the function, saying it reflected that “he (Mahathir) is a leader who is willing to sacrifice and loves BN which champions the people’s interests”.
“As a former prime minister, Tun Mahathir could have chosen to relax on a weekend, but he came to Sandakan to be with us.
“The message is, even with no post or position, or even if not selected as a candidate, we still support BN,” he added.
Likening the 13 members of the BN component to his children, Najib said it was not an easy task to please them all.
“However, with tolerance, all the 13 children can live in peace. This is the edge that BN has compared with the opposition. We are strong because we are united and work together as a family,” he added.
Najib said Sandakan as the gateway to the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) had a bright future under BN.
“As suggested by LDP president (VK Liew), there is no problem for us to upgrade the Sandakan Airport, and also built the Libaran by-pass, but the people have to support the BN government,” he added.
He said BN was the best option for the people in the coming general election.
“Whatever BN promises, we will deliver. For example, in the last Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election, our promises, we deliver. I’m happy that the Sabah people gave a good response to BN.
“Prior to this, when I say Sabah is a fixed deposit for BN, the opposition will call on the Sabah people to keep their savings elsewhere, but the best interest is still the Barisan Nasional,” he added. — Bernama