DON'T RISK COUNTRY'S FUTURE BY VOTING IN OPPOSITION - PM NAJIB

LABIS (Johor, Malaysia), Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib
Razak Tuesday advised the people not to risk the country's future through
experimentation by giving their votes to the opposition, but to continue
supporting ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) in order to safeguard their future.

The prime minister who is also BN chairman, said BN upheld the concept of close
cooperation among the component parties which shared the same ideology of
propelling the nation's success to a higher level.

"We in BN have the same ideology and that is why we've made the country
successful and we wish to bring it to the next level of success.

"It's not just for today but in future too. In 10 years' time, we will achieve
our dream of making Malaysia a developed nation," he said when officiating at
the opening of the replacement building for the Labis National-Type Primary
School and gathering with Chinese associations and non-governmental
organisations, here, Tuesday.

Najib said the opposition pact comprising PKR, DAP and PAS could only "share a
pillow but have different dreams and ambitions", showing their lack of
understanding of each other.

Najib said if the people chose to vote in the opposition, the country's future
would be scuppered and it would not be easy for the people to get back what had
been built up with much effort all these years.

He also questioned Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim's intention of forming a
shadow cabinet as until today, what had been harped by the former deputy prime
minister was merely rhetoric.

Najib also urged the Chinese community to give their support to the BN candidate
to be announced for the upcoming Tenang state seat by-election.

He said their support would up the development momentum and indicate to
prospective investors and Malaysia had strong political stability, which was
important for economic growth.

The by-election has been called following the death of the incumbent assemblyman
Sulaiman Taha, 59, from BN, on last Dec 17 due to
complications from diabetes.

Nomination of candidates for the by-election is on Jan 22 and polling on Jan 30.

Normala Sudirman, 38, who is Labis PAS women's wing head has been named the
party's candidate for the by-election, while the BN candidate is scheduled to be
announced by Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin Wednesday.
-- BERNAMA