Najib urges people to ignore Mahathir's Declaration

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged the people to simply ignore the 'Mahathir's Declaration' promoted by Tun Mahathir Mohamad and opposition leaders.

The Prime Minister said the Barisan Nasional (BN) government had always looked after the welfare of the people by implementing various programmes which met their needs besides ensuring that all promises in the general election manifesto were fulfilled.

"What we are concerned with is not a declaration, what we are concerned with is not a letter, not an admission... but actions which can benefit the people such as housing projects.

"What's the point of yelling here and there? Shouting there, shouting here? People who used to insult us, we on the other hand embrace him. This is not right. What is right for us is to look after the feelings of the people," he said cynically without naming the individual concerned.

Najib said this at a ceremony to hand over house keys at a 1Malaysia People's Housing project at Makmur Sri Fajar Jaya Housing, Jalan Kuantan-Gambang here, today.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, State Secretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail, State Housing and Urbanisation Committee chairman Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Muttalib.

Najib, who is also UMNO President, believed the people would continue supporting the government "if the government worked hard, is not arrogant and behaved in a humble manner".

He once again pledged to remain focused on the country's economic development to ensure among other things, increased opportunities for employment despite being "attacked" incessantly.

"As such, we have to endeavour not to misbehave or say anything which will cause others to view Malaysia negatively. While abroad I met United States congressmen from the Republican or Democratic parties. They do not condemn the United States despite being from different parties.

"They still maintain America is great. But our people are different. Some who had gone abroad condemned us. It is all right for us to have differing opinions but we have to assert that Malaysia is good and successful; we have to champion it, because this is our country," he said.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob, State Secretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail, State Housing and Urbanisation Committee chairman Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail and Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Abdul Muttalib.

Najib, who is also UMNO President, believed the people would continue supporting the government "if the government worked hard, is not arrogant and behaved in a humble manner".

He once again pledged to remain focused on the country's economic development to ensure among other things, increased opportunities for employment despite being "attacked" incessantly.

"As such, we have to endeavour not to misbehave or say anything which will cause others to view Malaysia negatively. While abroad I met United States congressmen from the Republican or Democratic parties. They do not condemn the United States despite being from different parties.

"They still maintain America is great. But our people are different. Some who had gone abroad condemned us. It is all right for us to have differing opinions but we have to assert that Malaysia is good and successful; we have to champion it, because this is our country," he said.

Najib once again reminded the people against being influenced by what were being disseminated on the internet about him, which were more aligned towards a political perspective.

Meanwhile, he expressed satisfaction that the housing agenda which is one of the BN government's priorities including at state level is right on track.

In Pahang, he said, 39,000 units of PR1MA houses had been built since the 13th general election although the initial target was only 19,000 units.

"As people say, there are three chapters in life which are important to us as human beings - a job, a home and marriage. There is nothing we can do when it comes to marriage. But employment and a place to live are what the people expect of the government to provide," he said.

In this regard, he said, the government was aware of the people's needs, hence housing projects such as the PR1MA at Makmur Sri Fajar Jaya which offered three bedroom-two bathroom units at an affordable RM150,000 each.