BUKIT MERTAJAM: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given an assurance that Umno would not claim the Penang chief minister’s post if the Barisan Nasional (BN) was returned to power in Penang in the General Election on May 5.
The prime minister said this was because BN was a coalition with a common understanding and clear objective.
“In whatever situation, Umno will not claim the post of the chief minister of Penang because we want to prove that BN is a coalition with a common understanding. Our objective is also clear.
“We (BN) are not like the parties on the other side which have no understanding among themselves, that they are always in conflict with one another,” he said when addressing a gathering at the Tapak Pasar Malam Perkampungan Juru here yesterday.
It was attended by more than 10,000 people, including Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen and State BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow.
Najib called on the people in Penang to continue supporting BN so that more development could be carried out in the state.
He hoped they would prove their support by ensuring victory for BN on May 5.
Najib also told them that Teng, who is the BN candidate for Bukit Tengah, was a brave man for his willingness to contest the state.
“Don’t think Umno can control him. He is a brave man and all component party leaders in the state support him,” he said.
It will be a three-cornered fight for the Bukit Tengah state seat involving Teng, Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s Ong Chin Wen and Independent candidate A Mohan. — Bernama