BN needs more Chinese representation in government - Najib
SANDAKAN, April 30 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional government, once formed after the 14th general election, will need more representation from the Chinese community in the Cabinet, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said this was to ensure that the Cabinet had a strong representation from among the multiracial leaders which could ensure that all communities in Malaysia were taken care of by the BN government.
Therefore, he said, he hoped that the people would give the mandate to the BN in GE14, including ensuring that Chinese BN candidates won all the seats they contested.
"In the last Cabinet, there were only three representatives (Chinese ministers) because they (Chinese BN candidates) didn't do well in the last general election.
"I wish I could have done more (to increase the number of Chinese representation). So, please give us (BN) a strong mandate," he said at a meet-the-people programme with the Sandakan Tionghua community here.
Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah and LDP advisor Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat, who is a former Sabah chief minister.
Najib, who is BN chairman, said he hoped that the people, particularly the Chinese community, would not be swayed by the opposition, especially DAP.
He said that because the people in most Chinese areas voted for DAP candidates in the last election, this led to the Cabinet being under-represented by the Chinese community at both the federal and state levels.
"Democracy is a game of numbers; with only 23 or 24 per cent of the country's population, the Chinese community cannot form a government.
"But the Chinese, with the other races, can form a strong government. I want strong Chinese representation in BN because I want to take this country to greater heights," he said.
Najib said the Chinese community, which was made up mostly of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, stood to gain more by supporting BN.
He said the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had projected that Malaysia's economic growth would remain strong after recording an impressive 5.8 per cent growth last year.
"We can do it (record higher economic growth this year) because the global market is waiting for a strong mandate (in GE14) and when BN forms the government after GE14, there will be a bull run in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE).
"When market confidence soars higher, who will benefit? Most of you (Chinese community) will benefit because most of you are corporate leaders. You know how to make money," he said.
Najib said the BN had proven its track record in steering Malaysia's economy, especially after he became the prime minister and managed to steer the country away from the economic recession in 2008 and two years ago, in 2016.
On Sabah, the Prime Minister said he had proven his commitment towards the state and would carry on with his commitment when BN wins GE14.
"We (BN) have all the plans laid out to make Sabah grow in terms of tourism, economic development. But you (the people) have to give us (BN) the right result (mandate).
"The other side (opposition) is uncertain. Don't take a gamble. Be calm and rational. An election is about choosing the right government to make your life better," he said.
When meeting reporters at the programme, Najib also announced that the parliamentary constituency of Batu Sapi will get a new secondary school, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Batu Sapi 2, to address the overcrowding of students at the constituency's only secondary school, SMK Batu Sapi.
"A site (for the new school) has been identified. It will be up to the ministry (Ministry of Education) to work out the cost (of construction). It is usually about RM30 million or so for a standard SMK design," he said.
-- BERNAMA
