KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak remains confident that Barisan Nasional can secure the two-thirds majority in Parliament come May 5.
Addressing the media after a ground-breaking ceremony for a new classroom block for Chung Hua Primary School No.2 here yesterday, he believed that Sarawak and Sabah would stay as BN’s fixed deposit states.
“We are still confident of winning two-thirds. I have seen improvement in Chinese-majority seats but I think we still need to work hard until polling day.
“I do not see any sign that Pakatan can win Sarawak and Sabah while rural constituencies are still Barisan Nasional’s stronghold. I believe rural people have realised that their future is with Barisan Nasional,” he said at the school in Tabuan Jaya Baru here.
Najib said BN did not expect SWP to wrest any seats from BN and he cited Lubok Antu as example, saying: “It is an area with over 90 per cent of Ibans. So we do not expect them to win.”
On talks that SWP – a relatively new party claiming to be BN-friendly – would align itself with BN after May 5: “I am not ruling out any possibility, but we do not expect them to win.”
“They are less hostile than Pakatan Rakyat, but their contesting still affects our chances of winning. When they stand in those seats, they are going against Barisan Nasional.”
Najib pointed out that BN had good track record in developing rural areas, and the various communities were aware of what the ruling coalition was capable of delivering.
He also had confidence in mixed constituencies including Stampin where he noted that BN’s candidates stood a good chance of winning.
On BN’s internal squabbles, he said some quarters might be unhappy with their candidates but the party’s machinery was committed to addressing relevant issues so as to ensure victory.
“A lot of issues have been looked into and resolved, and I can tell that internal conflicts among opposition parties are more serious than those of BN.”
Asked why he decided to visit constituents in Saratok and Lubok Antu earlier, Najib said he had limited time to conduct working visits in the state.
“You can argue why I go there or here, but choice has to be made.”
To a question on the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), he said “it is a fair concept and not a financial burden to tax payers” in the country.
He explained that the government subsidised 90 per cent of the fund to enable young Malaysians to pursue tertiary education in the country.
Najib added that Pakatan’s plan to offer free higher education would not be viable as the move would entail higher taxation on the people.
“There is no such thing as a free lunch. Free higher education equals higher taxpaying. Is this the kind of model for this country?”
Among those present were Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Peter Chin, Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, who is also BN-SUPP’s candidate for Stampin, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang, Minister of Tourism and Housing Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg, BN-SUPP’s candidate for Bandar Kuching Tan Kai and Board of Management for Chung Hua Primary Schools No.1 to 6 chairman Dr Chou Chii Ming. #myvote13 #ge13
Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2013/04/28/najib-confident-of-bns-two-thirds-majority-in-parliament/#ixzz2RhyYN7Bf
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