Najib seeks young women’s backing for BN

He does not want the young women to allow the opposition to derail the government's transformation efforts.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today advised the young women of Malaysia to not sacrifice the nation’s future by allowing the opposition to derail all the government’s efforts thus far.

Young women should not be influenced by the opposition parties’ political propaganda, which kept questioning the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) ability to administer the country, said Najib.

He said the opposition should be more constructive in their criticisms and not just find faults with every government project, when in fact these projects stimulate the economy and provide job opportunities.

“The opposition tries to derail projects such as Rapid in Pengerang, Johor and Felda’s listing on the Bursa Kuala Lumpur, on the basis that it does not wish to see BN succeed and show its ability to govern the country.

“All our plans will remain stunted as mere plans if the transformation is derailed by the opposition and it does not get the political support of the people,” he said while closing the 2012 National Young Women’s Gathering, here today.

Therefore, Najib said the young women of this country needed to fully support the present government, which was committed to helping them fulfill their inspiration, dedication, expression and aspiration.

He said the BN government guarantees that it will do the best for a brighter future.

“If young women want to have their inspiration, dedication, expression and aspiration fulfilled, then support the present government. And I assure you that we’ll do our best not to disappoint your expectations,” he said.

Promoting women’s performance
Najib said the government has fulfilled the younger generations’ aspiration for jobs through its Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Plan (ETP), by creating more than 313,000 opportunities.

“According to a global survey, the younger generations considered employment as top priority among all the issues they faced.

Najib emphasised that the government has never stopped women from progressing, as evidenced by their most encouraging diligence, dedication, loyalty and achievements.

He noted that young women outnumbered men almost double, 25,000 to 13,000, when it came to the intake in institutions of higher learning.

“This means we’ve never limited their chances to progress and that such an encouraging performance may have surpassed that of most other countries,” he added.

Women’s performance was also proven by the fact that 31 percent of the highest posts in the public sector was held by them, including important ones like Bank Negara Governor, Zeti Akhtar Aziz, said Najib.

“I believe we can expand this success to the private sector because the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry is training a group of women with the potential to be appointed as directors in Bursa Malaysia listed companies,” he elaborated.

Najib presented 12 ‘Kesatria Puteri’ awards at the event, among them to Siti Nurhaliza Taruddin (Performance Arts), Pandelela Rinong (Sports) and Nurul Iman Welfare Society for Children of People Living with HIV/AIDS president Norlina Alawi (Humanitarian).

Tunku Panglima Besar Kedah Tunku Puteri Intan Shafinaz was the Nusa Mahsuri award recipient for her local and international level contribution in various community and humanitarian movements.

- Bernama