Najib ready to engage Chinese community

The prime minister wants everyone to put nation building as their primary goal to transform Malaysian into a successful nation.

GEORGE TOWN: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept is a vision to build a united, strong and new Malaysia, where all ethnic communities would have a sense of belonging to this country.

Insisting that 1Malaysia concept was not a mere slogan, he also called on the people to set aside politics and put nation building as their primary goal to transform Malaysian into a successful nation.

He said he had always put nation building above all other interests.

“If we put politics above everything, we cannot be a successful nation.

“I want to bring Malaysia to greater heights. But I can’t do it alone.

“I need the people’s support and cooperation to achieve it,” he said in a short speech during the state Barisan Nasional’s “Chinese New Year Media Nite” in a hotel here last night.

Prior to his speech, a video clip was played to the audience, in which Najib was shown dressed on Chinese traditional costume and playing the Chinese drum.

He said the reason for his involvement in the video clip was to show that he respected the Chinese culture and was ever ready to work with community for betterment of the nation.

“We must respect the Chinese culture like how we respect the Malay and Indian cultures.

“The video was to show that I am willing to engage with the Chinese community,” Najib stressed to the audience, comprising largely media men and local BN leaders.

Among them were federal minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop and state BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow.

Najib, the BN national chairman and Umno president, said that he does not believe in promising things that he can’t deliver.

He said BN would fulfill its promise to resolve Penang’s housing and traffic problems if it was retained to state power in the forthcoming general election.

On when he would call for polls, he joked that “I don’t know when will be the election. But definitely it will be after the Chinese New Year.”