Shared optimism at MIC assembly
‘Opposition pact a risky option’
THE prime minister says the group, with disparate ideologies and no track record, is ill-suited to lead the country.
MALAYSIANS cannot take the risk of allowing the country to be governed by the opposition which leads only to instability, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
At MIC’s 71st general assembly here yesterday, Najib, who is also Barisan Nasional chairman, said the country must not be left to a political pact with no track record and leaders with different ideologies.
“Look at the initial opposition line-up. There was no Indian leader at its highest level.
“They only appoint a person as an afterthought to the Indian community,” he said, referring to DAP’s M. Kulasegaran, who was announced as Pakatan Harapan vice-president earlier this month.
Najib said the opposition pact was a “marriage of convenience” and used Machiavellian politics, adding that its style of politics was “almost laughable”.
He said to Pakatan Harapan, an enemy of an enemy was their friend and that although they slept on the same bed, they had different dreams.
“I am sure that the dreams of (DAP adviser) Lim Kit Siang, ( jailed de facto opposition leader) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and (Pakatan Harapan chairman) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad are different.
“You cannot have a country being led by people who have different ideologies and different agendas.”
Najib said the opposition had no blueprint for the Indian community and said much had been done for the Indian people under his leadership.
“What have they (the opposition) done for the Indian community, compared with that by BN government? The cabinet committee on Indian affairs was started when I was the deputy prime minister.
“I have realised then that without political will, Indians will be neglected, marginalised and left behind.
“Although my father and grandfather were not from Kerala, I am called the Bapa Pembangunan Kaum India (father of Indian community development),” he said to thunderous applause.
The Malaysian Indian Blueprint was launched on April 23 and is a comprehensive plan covering Malaysian Indians from all backgrounds, benefitting more than one million people.
The blueprint consists of four aspects that would oversee and identify problems faced by Malaysian Indians, improve their livelihood and wealth, recognise the potential of every Indian child and address social issues.
Najib said the government had approved an allocation of RM800 million for the development of national-type Tamil schools since 2010, the biggest amount in history.
He said the government had provided funds to Indian smalland medium-sized enterprises (SME), adding that more than 32,000 had benefitted from this through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Tekun Nasional, SME Corp and SME Bank.
“In terms of education, I am committed to ensuring a seven per cent participation of Indians in public universities.
“(I know that) the PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund Corporation ) isn’ enough to provide for the needs of the Bottom 40 group, and this is not just for the Indian community, but for all. This is something that we need to further study.”
He stressed the importance of unity to ensure a better future for Malaysia.
“We need to be ottrumai (united), then we can munnerevum
(move forward) for a good future. We have seen signs of a prosperous Malaysia to compete with the best countries in the world,” he added.
He said Malaysia had achieved a lot and received recognitions and accolades from reputable organisations, including the World Economic Forum, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
In the second quarter this year, he said, Malaysia recorded a 5.8 per cent growth in its gross domestic product, among the highest in the world.
“Last year, Malaysia was ranked 25th in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness report, and it is expected that our ranking will improve in this year’ report, which will be released soon.
“With all this validation and accolades, does it sound like we are a failed and bankrupt state?
“The opposition is lying to us and confusing us. They are trying to sow seeds of hate and are not being constructive,” he said.
More than 5,000 party delegates were present at the general assembly at Putra World Trade Centre, including BN secretarygeneral Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.
Page 1 pic: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak receiving a flower garland from MIC president Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam at MIC’s 71st general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.