Najib: Umno champions Islam, that's why PAS likes us

The principles and struggles of Umno, which champions the dignity of Muslims and Islam all this while, make the party likeable to PAS, says Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

He said this was because, PAS which was bullied by DAP in the opposition pact prior to this, had seen Umno from the aspect of welfare and administration which profited Muslims greatly.

"Regardless, we have our differences of opinions, the government under Umno has its principle of struggle and they (PAS) see our struggle as leaning toward the importance of Muslim dignity.

"PAS has had enough of DAP, it was bullied when it was with DAP, so much so it gave up and ran away," he said.

He said this in his speech at the state-level Prime Minister breaking-the-fast with the people programme and the national-level launching of the Kampung Fasa 8 (JLJK8) street lights at Pering Mosque, Jitra today.

Also present was the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.

Najib also rapped the opposition pact which is seen as not having a consensus when making a decision on who will be prime minister if the pact wins.

"There is this person who voluntarily offers himself (as prime minister). According to our system, which party garners the biggest win forms the government. If our party only has one seat how to be prime minister," he said.

Focus on rural development

In the meantime, Najib said the government would continue to help the people requiring aid other than focusing on rural development via a more systematic distribution of the nation's revenue.

He said this could be realised if the country continued to achieve good economic growth, for example, when Malaysia's economy grew by 5.6 percent during the first quarter of this year, which was among the best in the world.

"But, indeed, this is our task..when there is a need, when there is a shortage, we add. For example, we channel RM490 million in 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) in Kedah last year..we don't know this year's figure yet but maybe RM500 million involving more than 600,000 families benefiting," he said.

Earlier Najib launched the national level LJK8 involving 122,133 units which incurred an allocation of RM100 million.

A total of RM6.1 million was allocated by the government for the installation of 8,093 LJK8 in 15 Parliamentary areas in Kedah including 69 in the Jerlun parliamentary constituency.

LJK (Lampu Jalan Kampung) was one of the projects under the Rural Electricity Supply Programme which is implemented by the Rural and Regional Development Ministry since 2003 with Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) as the implementing agency.

Najib also handed over Aidilfitri contributions to 1,225 local residents, broke-the-fast and performed the Maghrib prayers at the mosque.

Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Education Minister Mahdzir Khalid, Defence Ministry deputy minister and Kubang Pasu Member of Parliament Mohd Johari Baharum were also present.

- Bernama