ID :
152111
Fri, 12/03/2010 - 01:36
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/152111
The shortlink copeid
EARLY SIGNS OF RESTORED FAITH IN BN, SAYS PM
From Jamaluddin Muhammad
PHNOM PENH, Dec 2 (Bernama) – Malaysians are recovering their faith in ruling
Barisan Nasional as the government starts to deliver on electoral promises and
other pledges, Najib Razak said Thursday.
The Prime Minister said there were early indications of a positive response from
the people to government initiatives to meet their needs and expectations.
"As we begin to deliver on electoral promises and on stated commitments, our
credibility is strengthened in the eyes of the public," he said in his keynote
address at the 6th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian
Political Parties here.
"The final judgement of whether or not we have met the expectations of the
people will only be known from the results of the next general election," he
added.
The meeting was attended by the leaders of 317 Asian political parties in the
government and opposition from 51 countries.
Najib stressed the need to deliver and be seen to deliver as he drew lessons
from the BN experience of the last several years when it lost considerable
support and strived to regain the people's trust.
He said that his first order of business when taking over the helm of the
country in April 2009 was to put in place the "People First, Performance Now"
commitment under the overarching 1Malaysia banner.
Since then, the BN government has launched 1Malaysia clinics to provide free
medical assistance and services and 1Malaysia scholarships for excellent
students regardless of race or religion, he added.
Najib said that various programmes to improve the living conditions of
lower-income groups and eliminate poverty around the country were also
introduced.
He said the government identified six National Key Results Areas to reduce
crime, fight corruption, raise living standards of low-income households,
improve rural basic infrastructure and enhance urban public transportation.
An Economic Transformation Programme was unveiled to establish a high income,
sustainable and inclusive nation, and 12 National Key Economic Areas were
identified, he added.
"The important thing to note here is that at practically every stage of
preparing these economic initiatives which will have impact on their daily
lives, members of the public were engaged in public labs and forums so as to
enable us to truly gauge their expectations and deliver on their aspirations,"
he said.
Najib said that BN itself had undergone significant transformation and continued
to re-invent itself to suit the changing times with the latest move involving
the passing of amendments that allowed for direct admission into the 13-party
coalition.
Najib said that Umno, the backbone of the coalition, too passed historic
amendments to its constitution last year to allow for greater participation of
party members at all levels in voting the party's leadership.
"Of course it exposes us to greater scrutiny in terms of our work and it
certainly puts party leaders including myself at substantial political risk, but
it is our belief that our political support must be – and should be –
conditional on our ability to perform well," the Umno president said.
"And by this mechanism, we will be judged by our own party members who can see
for themselves whether we have earned our place as their leaders."
The Prime Minister said that a political party was delusional if it thought that
its support base was permanent and unchanging and that it would forever be in
power.
Najib said that many "legacy" political parties were plagued with such thinking,
leading to internal bickering and power struggles within the party hierarchy.
"The end result is the loss of faith of the electorate and party grassroots
which cause them to shift their support to alternative political forces that
better serve their needs," he added.
Later, responding to questions from reporters, Najib said that early indications
that BN was regaining the confidence of the people were all the more reason for
the coalition to strive harder rather than relax.
Asked whether the indications would affect the timing of the next general
election, he said: "They are not early signs (of a general election) but it can
be early or late. That's normal."
-- BERNAMA
PHNOM PENH, Dec 2 (Bernama) – Malaysians are recovering their faith in ruling
Barisan Nasional as the government starts to deliver on electoral promises and
other pledges, Najib Razak said Thursday.
The Prime Minister said there were early indications of a positive response from
the people to government initiatives to meet their needs and expectations.
"As we begin to deliver on electoral promises and on stated commitments, our
credibility is strengthened in the eyes of the public," he said in his keynote
address at the 6th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian
Political Parties here.
"The final judgement of whether or not we have met the expectations of the
people will only be known from the results of the next general election," he
added.
The meeting was attended by the leaders of 317 Asian political parties in the
government and opposition from 51 countries.
Najib stressed the need to deliver and be seen to deliver as he drew lessons
from the BN experience of the last several years when it lost considerable
support and strived to regain the people's trust.
He said that his first order of business when taking over the helm of the
country in April 2009 was to put in place the "People First, Performance Now"
commitment under the overarching 1Malaysia banner.
Since then, the BN government has launched 1Malaysia clinics to provide free
medical assistance and services and 1Malaysia scholarships for excellent
students regardless of race or religion, he added.
Najib said that various programmes to improve the living conditions of
lower-income groups and eliminate poverty around the country were also
introduced.
He said the government identified six National Key Results Areas to reduce
crime, fight corruption, raise living standards of low-income households,
improve rural basic infrastructure and enhance urban public transportation.
An Economic Transformation Programme was unveiled to establish a high income,
sustainable and inclusive nation, and 12 National Key Economic Areas were
identified, he added.
"The important thing to note here is that at practically every stage of
preparing these economic initiatives which will have impact on their daily
lives, members of the public were engaged in public labs and forums so as to
enable us to truly gauge their expectations and deliver on their aspirations,"
he said.
Najib said that BN itself had undergone significant transformation and continued
to re-invent itself to suit the changing times with the latest move involving
the passing of amendments that allowed for direct admission into the 13-party
coalition.
Najib said that Umno, the backbone of the coalition, too passed historic
amendments to its constitution last year to allow for greater participation of
party members at all levels in voting the party's leadership.
"Of course it exposes us to greater scrutiny in terms of our work and it
certainly puts party leaders including myself at substantial political risk, but
it is our belief that our political support must be – and should be –
conditional on our ability to perform well," the Umno president said.
"And by this mechanism, we will be judged by our own party members who can see
for themselves whether we have earned our place as their leaders."
The Prime Minister said that a political party was delusional if it thought that
its support base was permanent and unchanging and that it would forever be in
power.
Najib said that many "legacy" political parties were plagued with such thinking,
leading to internal bickering and power struggles within the party hierarchy.
"The end result is the loss of faith of the electorate and party grassroots
which cause them to shift their support to alternative political forces that
better serve their needs," he added.
Later, responding to questions from reporters, Najib said that early indications
that BN was regaining the confidence of the people were all the more reason for
the coalition to strive harder rather than relax.
Asked whether the indications would affect the timing of the next general
election, he said: "They are not early signs (of a general election) but it can
be early or late. That's normal."
-- BERNAMA
