PUTATAN: Primary school children were yesterday given a political reminder to inform their parents to vote for the Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming 13th general election.
Deputy Chief Minister cum Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Yahya Hussin impressed on the students from SJK (C) Hwa Shiong near here yesterday that the present government was the best in the world and in Malaysia.
“Only BN provides free textbooks, BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Assistance) and Early Schooling Assistance for students … so children, tell your parents to support BN and Yong (Datuk Edward Yong, Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister),” he said.
In his speech, Yahya also mentioned that the school was a testimony of how people of various cultures and races can exist together in peace and harmony.
“Sitting in this hall right now are students from different backgrounds and races. Everyone celebrates the Chinese New Year together. The students also celebrate Hari Raya, Christmas and Deepavali festivals together in this same hall,” he said.
Yahya also urged parents to encourage multilingualism in their children. He noted that 70 percent of the students attending SJK (C) Hwa Shiong were Bumiputras who could speak in Mandarin.
“Unfortunately, I can only utter one or two words in Mandarin. It is a loss for me,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yong in his speech, said that the Chinese New Year festivity was celebrated not only by the Chinese community but also the other races that reside in Malaysia in the spirit of unity and harmony.
He stressed that the spirit of unity and harmony must be maintained in the country and that programmes such as that organised by the school yesterday could help foster better understanding on the cultures of the Chinese community to children of other races.
He added that Yahya, despite being a Bumiputra, had attended the school’s Chinese New Year celebration without fail for several years.
“This is the testimony that our leader is one who is open minded and treats the people of different races as one family,” he said.
He then urged those in attendance to give their full support to Yahya during the upcoming election.