Najib congratulates Chong Wei the two other award recipients Cheong (right) and Dr Lam look on with Liow (second right) and Wee. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday urged the Chinese in country to send more representatives from the community to the multiracial Barisan Nasional (BN) government in the next general election.
The Prime Minister said he wanted to see a stronger representation from the community in his government, adding that BN currently only had six per cent of members of parliament from the ethnic group which was a very low number.
“I want a stronger Chinese representation in the BN government. We need the number to go up.
“If the Chinese voice is stronger in BN, then you are able to shape the policies and possibilities of this government even better, and even stronger in the future,” he said before a 16,000-strong crowd at the Chinese Community Patriotic Assembly organised by MCA at Putra World Trade Centre, here.
The BN chairman also pointed out that as a multiracial nation, while the government is inclusive and always assisting in creating business opportunities for the community, the Chinese also must work together with other ethnic groups in nation building.
“The reality is that you cannot go it alone. This is a multiracial country and it must be based on a multiracial government, that is moderate and progressive. Let’s move ahead (together), we have so much to look forward to,” he said, adding that the BN government is also committed towards building a peaceful and a harmonious nation.
He also urged the Chinese community not to continue to waste its time with the propaganda of the opposition which was only trying to topple the government.
Najib said that although the BN had recorded many successes that all could be proud of lately like the implementation of the MRT project and drawing in huge foreign investments, it was still being criticised by the opposition.
“Don’t criticise blindly. For the opposition, whatever good you do, they will turn and twist it so that the people hate us. Remember, the opposition in their mind, if you can’t convince them, confuse them.
“This is the opposition’s mantra because this was what I discussed with a leader of the opposition who was once with us before. His take was that the art of psychological warfare is that, you if can’’t convince them, try to confuse them,” he said.
Thus, he said, the people should not fall prey to the opposition’s propaganda because the government today was one that was committed to the advancement of all Malaysians.
Najib also invited all Malaysians to together help realise the dream of making Malaysia among the top 20 nations in the world by 2050.
“I don’t want Malaysia to be a so-so country. I want to set the bar high and keep it high so that we can attain global world class standards.
“If we can work together in the spirit of 1Malaysia, there is no reason why Malaysia cannot be among the top 20 nations,” he said.
On the question of education, the prime minister said that the BN government was willing to give approval for the establishment of more vernacular Chinese schools especially in new growth areas to meet the needs of the community.
He also wanted the Chinese community to master Bahasa Malaysia which is the national language and for national identity.
He said Bahasa Malaysia was also the lingua franca of unity for the various ethnic groups in the country.
“I only ask you, when you have more Chinese schools, please strengthen your proficiency of our national language. You can learn Chinese but please speak good Bahasa. Don’t say ‘gua’ or ‘lu’ anymore (colloquial Malay for me and you),” he said.
Also present were MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and his deputy Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong, Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, badminton superstar Datuk Lee Chong Wei and various Chinese community leaders.
At the event, Najib also presented Outstanding Malaysian Chinese Awards to three recipients.
Besides Chong Wei. the other recipients were world diving champion Cheong Jun Hoong and Batu Pahat-born scientist Dr Lam Shu Jie, who is now living in Australia. — Bernama