KUALA LUMPUR: The newly formed Barisan Nasional will start a national reconciliation programme to reunite the people after the divisive GE13, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said the overall results of the elections reflected voting polarisation and this was worrying.
“We will make efforts for national reconciliation so that any form of extremism and racism that is unhealthy for Malaysia is tackled.
“We will continue to promote moderation among multi-racial Malaysians as the Barisan government places great importance on racial harmony and national unity,” he told reporters after the coalition had achieved a simple majority of 133 seats to form the Federal Government.
Asked if he had expected the results to be along racial lines, Najib said: “I did but I did not expect it to be to this extent.”
“Let us absorb the ramification of the results. We will analyse it and discuss with Barisan leaders on what kind of national reconciliation plans we should embark on,” he said. “What is important is that we reject extremism and racism.”
He said although Barisan had managed to wrest Kedah back to the coalition, it could not do so in Selangor because of lack of support from the Chinese community.
Najib said they were taken in by the promises of the Opposition and that was why Barisan’s plans did not materialise.
He said that Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman’s loss in Gelang Patah was also the result of “a tsunami from the Chinese community which largely supports the Opposition”.
Najib, who is also Barisan chairman, thanked the voters for returning the coalition to power.
“I also hope that all parties including the Opposition accept the results with open hearts,” he said, adding that the Opposition could contest the results in court if they had proof of irregularities.
He said Barisan was not concerned about street demonstrations as he was confident that Malaysians practised mature democracy.
“I assure the rakyat that whatever pledges Barisan made will be fulfilled.”
