New Straits Times

OPPOSITION’S 3-CAPTAIN STRUCTURE MAKES NO SENSE, SAYS NAJIB

‘No political party in the world has three captains’

- LAILI ISMAIL AND TEH ATHIRA YUSOF SERDANG news@nst.com.my

THE lack of unity among opposition parties bodes ill for the country if they are to take the helm, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Najib took a jibe at the opposition for having too many figurehead­s in their coalition, saying that the parties could not move in tandem.

“Just look at their structure. No political party in the world has three captains in their ship.

“They have a de facto leader, a president and a chairman (in the coalition), but, until now, we do not know who is the tauke besar (real leader).

“This does not make sense. In reality, the only common aim they have is to topple the government.

“They are mired with different ideologies and personal agendas,” he said at the 25th general assembly of the Indian Progressiv­e Front (IPF) at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang here yesterday.

Najib said the fact that the opposition leaders had no history of cooperatin­g together was dangerous for the country.

“When there is an unstable coalition, our country and the people will bear the brunt.

“One of the reasons why Malaysia continues to develop successful­ly is because of political stability.

“Look at other countries that are plagued with political instabilit­y. Chaos and internal conflicts are prevalent.

“Therefore, we need to defend this stability because the opposition leaders share the same bed, but not the same dreams.”

He said the opposition had no specific agenda when it came to the developmen­t of the Indian community, unlike Barisan Nasional, which came up with the Malaysian Indian Blueprint.

“We (BN component parties) have a mutual understand­ing.

“We have Friends of BN, like IPF, whose loyalty we appreciate.

“Maybe we could not fulfil all of IPF’s requests, but I am working towards convincing other parties to work with IPF.

“What is important is not positions (in the administra­tion), but the future of the Indian community and the country.”

He said the government appreciate­d the women of IPF, who made up 60 per cent of the party.

Present were BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and IPF president Senator Datuk M. Sambanthan.

Najib said IPF could play an important role in helping BN win big in the 14th General Election.

Najib said although IPF was not a BN component party, it represente­d the low-income Indian community and had shown its commitment to champion the government’s agenda in its 27 years of existence.

“IPF can still champion the Indian community, although it is not a BN component.

“I appreciate IPF’s support and loyalty, and believe it can help BN win big.”

 ?? PIC BY MUHD ZAABA ZAKERIA ?? Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the 25th general assembly of the Indian Progressiv­e Front in Serdang yesterday. With him are Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (second from right) and IPF president Senator Datuk M. Sambanthan (second from left).
PIC BY MUHD ZAABA ZAKERIA Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the 25th general assembly of the Indian Progressiv­e Front in Serdang yesterday. With him are Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (second from right) and IPF president Senator Datuk M. Sambanthan (second from left).

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