New Straits Times

VOTE WISELY, PM TELLS CHINESE

Support for BN will ensure a stronger Chinese representa­tion in govt, says Najib

- ADRIAN LAI AND ARFA YUNUS KUALA LUMPUR news@nst.com.my

PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday called on the Chinese to vote wisely in the 14th General Election (GE14) if they wish to see a strong Chinese representa­tion in the government.

Najib said there was no point in wasting time supporting the opposition, like DAP, as the party could never form a government although they won many Chinese votes in GE13.

He said if the Chinese voted for MCA, they would enjoy more benefits from the Barisan Nasional government.

“If the Chinese community wants more, please support BN.

“MCA has seven members of parliament, but with 15 MPs, you will be stronger in the government.

“We ask the Chinese, what do they want? Do they want a strong Chinese representa­tion in the next government or a weak one?

“The choice is yours. Tell the Chinese community that DAP cannot form the government even if it wins big,” he said at the opening of MCA’s 64th annual general assembly at the party’s headquarte­rs here yesterday.

The BN chairman said although there was a lack of Chinese votes in GE13 for BN, the government had included three Chinese ministers in the cabinet.

This, he said, was because the government did not want the Chinese to feel they were being sidelined just because they had fewer representa­tives in the cabinet.

“By right, with seven MPs, you can’t have three ministers.

“But we did it because we want to show that we listen to the Chinese community’s needs.

“Please support us because you can’t have everything your way. It doesn’t make sense.

“You always complain we give a lot to Malays, but it’s because they support us.

“Umno has increased its representa­tion.

“So, the only right thing to do is to support BN. Don’t waste your time with the other side. It’s all hypocrisy,” said Najib.

He said in the 2018 Budget, he had included many initiative­s for the Chinese.

It was announced that 10 Chinese vernacular schools will be built, while six others will be relocated.

He also injected RM50 million for Koperasi Jayadiri Malaysia Bhd, an MCA initiative aimed at providing education loans to needy students to pursue higher education, as well as to nurture well-trained manpower for the country.

 ?? PIC BY AIZUDDIN SAAD ?? Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at MCA’s 64th annual general assembly at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. On his right is MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.
PIC BY AIZUDDIN SAAD Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak at MCA’s 64th annual general assembly at Wisma MCA in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. On his right is MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

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