DPM outlines factors favouring BN in run-up to 13th GE

By MOHD KHAIRY ABDULLAH

KENINGAU (Sabah, Malaysia): Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today outlined several factors which places the Barisan Nasional (BN) in a favourable position in the run-up to the 13th general election.

He said more people were lending their support to the BN after the government introduced various transformation programmes which benefited all levels of society.

   These programmes, initiated by the national leadership helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, were well received, he told a news conference after opening the 15th delegates meeting of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS) at the Keningau community hall, here.

   The Government Transformation Programme (GTP), Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), Political Transformation Programme (PTP) and Rural Transformation Programme (RTP) were focused on the people, he said.

This was on top of the 111 touch points or initiatives of Budget 2013 which benefited all levels of society, he added.

He said there was strong racial unity, which was the basis of national development, and there was no discord despite attempts by certain quarters to disrupt solidarity.

   Muhyiddin, who is also BN deputy chairman, said there were no internal problems among the component parties of BN which could not be resolved positively.

He said some of the other good points were the five per cent economic growth achieved by the country and the increase in domestic and foreign investments, as well as the rise of the per capita income to US$9,700 compared to US$7,500 two years ago.

   "The situation is most favourable (for the BN)," he said.

Earlier, in addressing the PBRS delegates, Muhyiddin said the strong position of the BN should be buttressed by the resilient spirit of the 13 component parties of the coalition, with even small parties like the PBRS playing a huge role just like the bigger parties.

   "We must be determined that the BN cannot lose. We have gone to the ground and helped the people.

"We have to realise that if we do not strive, we can lose. Umno and all its partners in the BN have realised this. We have met and discussed the question of strengthening our parties and working to convince the people," he said.

He said the government was in the right 'locomotive' driven by Najib towards making Malaysia a developed nation by 2020.

      Muhyiddin reminded members of BN component parties not to quarrel among themselves and advised them to take care of the needs of their constituents and resolve their problems.

He said Najib, he and the other leaders went down to the ground to meet the people because "we want to retain the government for the sake of the people".