Najib has Chinese needs close at heart — Lim

KUCHING: The needs of the Chinese community are always close to the heart of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

Saying this was former MCA deputy president Tan Sri Lim Ah Lek in a recent interview with The Star.

Lim, who has worked with Najib as a state executive councillor when the latter was Pahang Menteri Besar, and later as a cabinet colleague, recalled a few incidences that spoke volume of Najib’s concern for the Chinese community.

According to Lim, there were many decisions made by Najib that had benefitted Chinese education, but were little known, resulting in Najib being misunderstood.

The biggest decision was when Najib was the Education Minister. He gave up the power provided under Section 21(2) of the Education Act 1961 to close down Chinese schools and convert them to national schools.

“He voluntarily gave up that authority and removed the uncertainties that used to hang above the heads of the Chinese community.”

Lim said during Najib’s tenure as MB, he had helped MCA Maran Division to solve a thorny issue — land which was meant for a lowcost housing project ended up as a Malay reserve land.

“I took the matter to Najib and showed him the facts. He immediately called up the district officer and was told that it had indeed been gazetted as a Malay reserve land.

“He ( Najib) apologised and said he would work out a compromise. The land was partially returned to non-Malays for the building of low- cost homes,” Lim was quoted saying.

It was Lim’s view that despite being a young MB, Najib chose to face the wrath of the local Malay politicians and voters as he believed in the politics of consensus.

Lim also brought up the case where Najib, as MB, had allocated RM2 million specifically for the 49 Chinese new villages in Pahang.

“It has never been done before. He was the first. He stated clearly that the money was for development in new villages,” said Lim.

Lim also recalled the time when Najib approved the conversion of Temporary Occupation Licensed ( TOL) land owned by Chinese farmers into a 99-year-old leasehold land at 50 sen per square feet.

Najib according to Lim, had also on one nomination eve gave permission for the setup and relocation of 16 Chinese schools.

The applications had been left unattended due to bureaucracy but Najib, amid a full office of supporters, looked at the list and instantly approved them one-byone.

On the same occasion, Najib approved the request of Foon Yew Independent School of Johor Baru, which was seeking his approval for the setting up of a branch school.

The 73-year-old Lim, who has long retired from politics, said he came public with these contributions of Najib not to suck up to Najib but rather to make known to the public Najib’s good deeds.

He affirmed Najib’s contribution to the Chinese community and cautioned that politics was about perception — where an outspoken politician might be perceived as a hero while contributing zero.

“With a shrinking population, I pray that the Chinese voters would re- assess their political thinking and vote cleverly and strategically.

“We can still retain our political clout, even with our smaller numbers, if we are able to place ourselves cleverly, or else, our clout will be greatly reduced along with our shrinking numbers if we live by wishful thinking without being politically realistic,” Lim was quoted as saying.