Najib: No community is neglected by BN

The government had channelled RM21 million in funds to NGOs representing Sikhs nationwide from 2008 until now, says the BN chief.

PETALING JAYA: Najib Tun Razak said the Barisan Nasional government has ensured that no community, including minority groups, had been neglected.

The prime minister said the government under his administration continued to give equal opportunities to the people to succeed regardless of race or creed.

“Since being appointed as prime minister, I have tried to make sure no community, big or small, is neglected and my presence at this Gurdwara Sahib here today shows that I walk the talk,” he said when attending a Vaisakhi Day celebration at the Sikh temple here.

Accompanying him were his wife Rosmah Mansor, ministers in the Prime Minister’s Department Koh Tsu Koon and G Palanivel as well as the temple’s president, Harbhajan Kaur.

Najib said the success of several individuals from the Sikh community in holding important post in the government, such as Works Ministry secretary-general Himmat Singh, Securities Commission chairman Ranjit Ajit Singh and Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Amar Singh Ishar Singh was proof that the government did not neglect any race.

The prime minister also said the government had channelled RM21 million in funds to non-governmental organisations (NGO) representing Sikhs nationwide from 2008 until now.

Najib said since he took charge of the government, he and his cabinet members had strived to meet the needs of the community and earn their trust to work together in ensuring the success of national transformation programmes.

“We have established confidence among the Sikh community and I am confident the trust will continue,” he said.

He added the progress and development that the government had brought to the Sikh community had given the community confidence to continue supporting the government.

Najib said this support will result in the strengthening of a plural society as well as the wellbeing of each race.

At the ceremony, Najib also announced an allocation of RM3.8 million to 10 Sikh NGOs including the Malaysian Gurdwara Council, Malaysian Sikh Youth Organisation and the Malaysian Sikh Women Awareness Network Association as well as the Gurdwara Sahibs in Petaling Jaya, Subang and Shah Alam in Selangor and also Bayan Baru in , Penang.

Earlier, Najib, who was attired in in a white and a black songkok, was given a grand welcome upon his arrival. He and wife then were feted to a breakfast of various Sikh traditional delicacies such as samosa, jalebi and barfi.

This is the fifth time Najib celebrated Vaisakhi with the Sikh community.

The first was at the Gurdwara in Kampung Baharu in 2009, followed by Ipoh and Dataran Merdeka last year and the year before.

Bernama