Najib assures non-Malays in Perak they will not be neglected
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given his guarantee that the non-Malays in Perak will not be neglected under the new Barisan Nasional-led state government.
“I have already told the new Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abd Kadir that the Barisan government is for all races.
“The party will fight for everybody’s interests,” Najib told reporters after attending the 44th South-East Asia Central Banks Governor’s Conference at Bank Negara Malaysia here yesterday.
He was responding to claims that the Chinese in Perak were worried that their welfare may be sidelined under the new leadership.
Najib was also confident that picking Dr Zambry as the new Perak Mentri Besar was the right decision based on the latter’s experience in political administration.
“I have faith he will fulfil the hopes and aspirations of the people in Perak, Insya-Allah,” he said, adding that the Federal Government would offer its full support to the state government.
Asked whether Barisan had plans to take over other states under Pakatan Rakyat, Najib laughed and said: “Tak adalah macam itu (There’s nothing of that such). We will see how it goes.”
On Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu and Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi joining Umno while facing corruption charges, Najib stressed they were Independents and not Umno members.
“However, they are independent representatives who have pledged support to Barisan, and that is an important principle,” he said.
He added that the ruling coalition would not interfere in any court decisions to be made on the charges.
Asked whether fresh elections should be held in Perak, he replied: “It does not matter what we feel because it is the Sultan’s prerogative to decide under the Federal Constitution.”
He added that the Sultan was satisfied that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had lost the majority in the State Assembly.
Najib said Barisan respected the Sultan’s consent to appointing Dr Zambry as the Mentri Besar.
“Should there be any disputes on the appointment, the remedy is to go court,” he said.
