MSIAN PM HOPES FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak has expressed the hope that the new year in the Chinese calendar will also bring success to the policies and programmes set by the government.

"I hope that this will be the year we achieve greater success in line with the belief that this Year of the Rabbit will be a prosperous year.

"But this can only be realised if the policies and agenda are implemented to the best of our abilities," he told reporters at the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) open house in conjunction with the Chinese New Year, here Thursday. The MCA is a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front) government.

Najib, who was accompanied by wife Rosmah Mansor, also expressed the hope that the private sector and the Chinese community would come together and play their role in pushing the national agenda forward.

Present were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Norainee Abdul Rahman, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, MCA leaders including its president Dr Chua Soi Lek, deputy president Kong Cho Ha and several Barisan Nasional component party leaders.

Najib and Muhyiddin spent about an hour at the open house and also took part in mixing the "Yee Sang" together with other leaders as a symbol of unity in the country.

The fine weather in the capital city provided a conducive environment for the celebration, with the people visiting the open houses of their Chinese friends.

Thousands of people attended the open house at the MCA headquarters, among them tourists.

Another Barisan Nastional component party Gerakan also held their open house Thursday, taking place at PGRM Building in Cheras, near hera and attended by the prime minister and deputy prime minister.

At the Gerakan open house, there was a mixing of Yee Sang, which was spread over four meters long, participated by leaders and the people.