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Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak being greeted by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman on his arrival in Kota Kinabalu yesterday.
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5th October, 2008
KOTA KINABALU: The Barisan Nasional (BN) must be sensitive to the need to change.
“If we don’t have the courage and vision to change, the people will change us,” Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in his speech during a dinner with Sabah Barisan Nasional leaders here last night.
Najib who is also BN deputy chairman and Finance Minister said the March 8 election result was a clear indication that the people wanted change.
“We must be the party that will lead the change” he added.
The BN, he said, must look at itself as a party capable of resolving the problems faced by the people so they would feel that the ruling coalition understood their needs and aspirations.
Najib also said it was important for leaders to work together in the spirit of the BN family, and that they should not only stand up for their own groups.
“This will hurt the feelings of others in the BN,” he said.
Najib stressed racial politics would only ruin the BN “and so we must ensure that none of our friends in BN are involved in racial politics”.
He also reminded that the interests of the party as a whole were more important than individual personal interests.
Najib said it was also crucial for federal leaders to have a close rapport not only with state leaders but more importantly, with the people.
“This is crucial if BN wants to continue to be strong, especially in Sabah,” he said.
And, in order for BN to remain relevant, Najib pointed out that it was also vital for the government to ensure that the nation’s wealth was distributed equally.
“That is why the allocation for Sabah was increased to ensure no areas are left behind in development,” he said, adding that the state and federal government must continue to work closely to bring development to the people of Sabah.
Najib added:”“I once said that I regard Sabah as BN’s fixed deposit. That is why I am here to check if this fixed deposit is still intact…and it is and God willing, it will be even better,” the Deputy Prime Minister said to the applause of those present at the dinner.
He also expressed the hope that every BN party in Sabah would continue with the BN struggle.
Touching on the opposition’s recent claim that it would form the government on September 16, Najib said it was just a ploy to attract the people’s attention.
The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that Sabah was among the best states in the country in terms of racial integration.
At a brief press conference later , Najib said the government has made efforts to meet the demand of the people for change and that such efforts would continue.
On the recent issue of a 78-year-old Sino-Kadazan woman from Penampang who was issued with a red Mykad by the National Registration Department (NRD) although she is a Malaysian, Najib explained that it was due to an administrative error.
“We will rectify the problem and ensure it will not happen again,” he said.
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