What About Old Leaders In PR? Prime Minister

KUCHING, 10 April  — Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today was trying to make an issue of the long tenure of Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The Prime Minister said he and Taib had agreed on a smooth transition to ensure continued progress for the state.

“So let us not be influenced by the instigations of the opposition because they themselves have many leaders who are old,” he said at a meet-the-people session in the indoor stadium of the Kuching South City Councuil.

Also present were Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon and Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, who is Umno vice-president

“I have come to Sarawak many times because I wish to help the people in the state and as such, I urge you to choose candidates in the (Sarawak) election who can represent the Chinese community and other races,” said Najib.

He said Chinese representation in the state government was important to look after the wellbeing of the community like its request for another Chung Hua school in Kuching.

“I will consider such a request from BN elected representatives and there is a very good chance of it being approved,” he said, adding that there was also a request for a metropolitan health project for the state capital.

He said the BN government would bring about structured change including transformation programmes, so that more rural infrastructure and utilities projects could be implemented in Sarawak.

“This is the difference between us and the opposition, whose promises to do and deliver is not guaranteed but the BN can deliver and has delivered,” he said.

“If you give us the mandate, we will give you more change for the better,” he said, adding that it was unnecessary to vote for the DAP for change because uncertainty would be bad for businesses.

Even in opposition-held states that managed to attract foreign investments, he said, it was largely due to the efforts of the federal government and agencies like MIDA and MITI. – BERNAMA