KUALA KANGSAR, April 27 – History has proven that Umno leaders who abandon the party will be ‘marginalised’ by the rakyat, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Najib, who is also Umno president, said that history had shown that the party’s struggles were more important than the interests of any individual.
“History noted that Umno founder, the late Datuk Onn Jaafar had left the party to set up Parti Negara, but what happened eventually? Finally, the people rejected the leader who had founded Umno because they knew that even without the individual concerned, the party struggles can still go on as long as the party exists and has the power,” he said.
He said this when addressing more than 5,000 people at the 1Malaysia People’s Assembly at Arena Square, here today. Najib, who is Barisan Nasional (BN) chairman, said the support given by the party leaders who were not selected as candidates to those who were contesting in the 13th general election demonstrated the strong party spirit among the BN members.
He said the post that was being contested was temporary but what was important was self-integrity which could not be bought.
The people would respect those with integrity forever even if they had no position. The Prime Minister was also impressed with the ‘Blue Wave’ reception accorded by the people who had filled the arena since this morning and described the reception as a sign of commitment of the voters in Kuala Kangsar and Padang Rengas to vote for the BN in the general election this time.
“I’m very excited not because I could attend the gathering today but more so because I could feel and see the extraordinary reception…when I shook hands just now, there were people who did not want to let go, some had said ‘I love PM’. Such sentiments gave me confidence that we will defend the BN’s position in Kuala Kangsar,” he said.
The people of various strata of society had given their support and shook hands endlessly with the Prime Minister since he arrived at the arena ground until he walked up the stage.
“On May 5, Malaysians will give their answer to everything, and the answer is that all of you want the country to continue to develop, we can achieve the 1Malaysia philosophy, stability, peace and harmony. So, vote for the BN candidates…the others cannot (do it), the opposition cannot, the Independent candidate certainly cannot (do it),” he said.
The Kuala Kangsar parliamentary constituency will see a three-cornered fight between the BN candidate, Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il (Khair-il) Wan Ahmad, former Wanita Umno vice-head Datuk Kamilia Ibrahim who is standing as an Independent candidate, and the PAS candidate, Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah.
Kamilia, 61, who was not selected as the BN candidate for the Kuala Kangsar parliamentary seat but was instead offered to stand for the Bukit Chandan state seat, was among the Umno leaders who had left the party. Najib, who arrived at the arena grounds at 9.45am, was accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, State Assembly Speaker Datuk R.Ganesan and Kuala Kangsar Umno division head Datuk Ramly Zahari.
Also present were the incumbent for Padang Rengas parliamentary seat Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and the BN candidate for Sungai Siput parliamentary seat Datuk S.K Devamany.
BERNAMA
