Najib: I will decide on candidates based on consultation

KUANTAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today reminded Barisan Nasional(BN) leaders and members to understand the component party principles which was established to protect the needs of all races. He said they must be able to understand the real principles of BN which was to ensure everyone remained united and lived in a peaceful country. Najib, who is also the BN chairman, said he wanted BN leaders and members to leave it to him to determine the party’s candidates who would be fielded to contest in the 14th General Election (GE14).

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said they must be able to understand the real principles of BN which was to ensure everyone remained united and lived in a peaceful country. (NSTP/FARIZUL HAFIZ AWANG)

“Not leave it solely to me but as the BN chairman I will discuss with the others including Menteri Besars, component party leaders and division leaders. I will not decide on my own but consult others in the process of making the final say. “That is why we need to understand the principles on why BN has been representing all the component parties since 1973...it is to safeguard the interest and wellbeing of all races so that the people can live in peace and harmony....to make Malaysia a well respected country,” he said in his speech at the “Pemimpin’ Bersama Rakyat’” programme before launching the Kuantan Parliament Barisan Nasional Election Machinery at Dataran Kemunting here today. Najib said he wanted everyone to understand that when he as the party’s top leader decided something, he would ensure that it benefitted everyone. “Leave it to the party leadership (on matters concerning GE14 candidates). Sometimes there are decisions that will favour us or go against us but we must always see it as a long term sacrifice as our aim is to build a strong government which will be well respected by the people. “As long as BN leaders and members are loyal to the leader then we will be able to be in power at both in federal and state level. When we are in power it will be easier for the government to carry out projects that will benefit the people,” he said. Meanwhile Najib in his speech reminded the 62, 036 voters in the Kuantan parliamentary constituency not to be easily duped by the opposition’s lies including the recent ones concerning the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP) in Gebeng here. “The opposition claim we are selling the country’s sovereignty to China. MCKIP is an investment project which will create jobs, new economy growth and spur the country towards greater heights. “The people here should not fall to the opposition’s lies just like what happened during the last general election when they claimed the Lynas rare earth plant will cause health problems which turned out to be untrue. We are tired of the lies spread by the opposition so now we need to work as a team and ensure BN wins the Kuantan parliament seat,” he said. Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, MCA President Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Kuantan BN division chief Datuk Seri Wan Adnan Wan Mamat and his deputy Datuk Seri Abdul Hamid Mohd Nazahar,and Kuantan MCA division chief Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker. More than 8,000 BN leaders,component party members and members of the public gathered at the venue since noon which also hosted. the “Jualan Sentuhan Rakyat” programme. © New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd