PM: Support for BN growing

(The Star) – The Kerdau and Merlimau by-election wins show the people’s growing support for the Barisan Nasional, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

He said the trend was encouraging and bringing back confidence to the ruling coalition.

“The mandate given to us by the two electorates shows the people believe that Barisan can bring better living standards while being a government that can solve their problems,” he said after the opening of the fourth session of the 12th Parliament yesterday.

Najib said the Barisan would continue its work to win over voters.

“As we go along, we are able to prove that whatever we have promised, we can deliver. I believe we can further raise the support level. The issues raised by the opposition could not be accepted by the people because they are looking more at a guaranteed future for themselves,” he added.

Najib, however, said the victories did not mean it was time to call for a general election.

“While we may feel that voter confidence is returning, we also have to survey conditions around local communities, at state and also federal level,” he said.

The two wins put Barisan on equal footing with Pakatan Rakyat with eight by-election victories each since 2008.

Najib noted that Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was no longer having the same impact with some in the opposition seeing him as a liability.

“I heard that even PAS feels uncomfortable when he turns up during by-elections. There are even some who send messages to request that he does not attend.

“This shows that even among themselves, they do not have confidence in one another,” he said.

Najib said that PAS appeared to be under pressure as some of its supporters were uncomfortable with the ties the party had with DAP.

“Unlike us, there is no firm cooperation in the opposition bloc and their relationship is tarnished with disagreements and loose ties,” he added.