'BRAND NAJIB' now instead of Barisan Nasional? Is BN so UN-WINNABLE?

GEORGE TOWN, - The Brand Najib (BN) phenomenon as well as Barisan Nasional, also BN, are fast transforming the political landscape of the northern states in peninsular Malaysia now being controlled by Pakatan Rakyat.

This can be gauged by the large and enthusiastic turnout of people whenever Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak goes to Penang and Kedah.

It was evident again this morning when 20,000 people turned up at Universiti Sains Malaysia here to listen to him as he launched the "Jelajah Janji Ditepati" (Promises Fulfilled Tour) Carnival for Penang where he reminded them about BN's track record, about what it has done for the country and people and what it would do for the people's future.

Granted that many came in organised transport, there were some who came on their own, just to see him and, if possible, shake his hand in the process.

Sixty-five-year old Ariffin Mohd Salleh was one such person. He drove all the way from Sungai Petani in Kedah with his wife, just to greet the prime minister.

And why did he do that? "For me, I believe he is the perfect leader. And he really loves the people," he said as he trudged slowly for more than a kilometre just to go to the carnival site and meet Najib.

Asked whether he was invited by the organisers, he said he was not.

"I came on my own free will. I wanted to see my leader. When I saw a message on TV that the prime minister was coming to Penang this morning, I made it a point to come.

"I have met him before on a number of occasions but I still feel a sense of pride whenever I get to meet him because I know he will lead us to a better future," said Ariffin, a former employee of Maskargo at the Bayan Lepas international airport, with tears of admiration welling up in his eyes as he spoke.

Some were not so lucky as Ariffin as they had to walk nearly three kilometres when their buses had to leave them outside the carnival site because of limited parking space.

Still, they showed plenty of vim and energy, just because they could meet the person they admire the most - Najib.

One of them was K. Thena, 62, who is a member of an NGO, Persatuan Perpaduan Armada 1Malaysia. "I came because I want to show my support to him because I feel he can bring change to Penang. Over the last four years, nothing much has happened in the state.

"I know he won't leave us in a lurch. There is greater confidence about Najib and Barisan Nasional in Penang now."

Earlier, Najib told the gathering that BN would ensure that the interests of the Indians and Chinese in Penang would be safeguarded and that the Malays would not be neglected.

Magandan Thangavelu, 32, who led the group of 400 members of Persatuan Perpaduan Armada 1Malaysia with a huge banner of support for Najib, said the NGO represented the generation of new and young voters in Penang.

Currently, it has about 800 members, comprising mostly Indian youths but he said it would reach out to more youths of other races and increase its membership while spreading the message of 1Malaysia.

A Chinese housewife in her 60s, who declined to be named, said she came from the Farlim Housing Estate in Air Itam to catch a glimpse of the prime minister.

"Since I had nothing to do at home, I thought this would be a good opportunity to see him," she said.

Najib sure knew how to wow the local crowd when he occasionally resorted to using the Penang Malay lingo in his speech when stressing that he would visit Penang more often to be with the people and, in lighter vein, added that it was also because the state has delicious "capati".

"Saya akan mai lagi" (I will come again)," he said, opting to use the local pronunciation of "mai" instead of "mari" for the word "come".

With the pledge of better housing and transportation for Penangites, Najib, the game changer, and Brand Najib will be hard to ignore.

It is often said that a politician is known by the promises he keeps. But it would be appropriate to take note of what Denis Waitley, a noted speaker on human productivity, said of promises and commitments: "Losers make promises they often break. Winners make commitments they always keep."

For the people who came to see the prime minister at various locations in Penang today, they know they have a sure-fire winner in Najib.

That said, the groundswell of change has started to rumble in Penang and Kedah.

-- BERNAMA