PM: Challenging times for BN

‘I want two-thirds majority as a stable Govt is vital’

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be much more challenging for the Barisan Nasional Government to get a twothirds majority in the general election in the current situation, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said it was more important to have a stable and reasonably strong Government.

“I want two-thirds. But I also know that it is much more challenging. What is more important is a stable and reasonably strong Government, whatever that means.

“It could be a two-thirds majority or a comfortable simplemajority but we do not want a hung Parliament. It is the worst possible outcome and could spell trouble for Malaysia,” he said during a question and answer session at the launch of the Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia (FCCM) here last night.

Asked what majority would he be comfortable with, Najib said:

“In today’s modern democracies, most prime ministers would be over the moon with a simple majority.

“Realistically, in the Malaysian context, it is more and more challenging to get two-thirds. It is also equally as challenging for Singapore to win two-thirds.”

However, Najib said Barisan was striving towards a two-thirds majority despite the current environment.

“It is a different environment now. Social media is at work, and we do not have a monopoly of information as we used to have,” he said.

Najib also called on foreign correspondents to get the Government’s side on issues, and not just the Opposition’s.

In thanking Najib for launching the club, FCCM president Romen Bose said this was a move in the right direction in engaging the global media, adding that it would continue to develop strong relations and a deeper understanding of issues.

The club has about 100 members.