Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today the government would not practice unfair policies and would provide assistance even to the people in areas represented by the opposition.

"We know that this Batu constituency is represented by an MP who has been convicted in court. We don't know what will happen but we won't discriminate the people, because the people's interest is far more important than that of an opposition representative," he said at the meet-the-people session in Bandar Baru Sentul today.

bagan pinang by election nomination 031009 muhyiddin yasin On Oct 22 last year, Batu MP Tian Chua was sentenced to six months' jail and fined RM3,000 by the Kuala Lumpur Magistrate's Court after finding him guilty of injuring a police constable in an illegal assembly at parliament compound on Dec 11, 2007.

The court has granted a stay of execution of the sentence pending appeal.

Muhyiddin said the commitment was one of the measures taken by the BN to redeem itself after its dismal performance in the 12th general election and to ensure a better result in the next election.

This was important to ensure that the BN could continue to help the people, he added.

Earlier, Muhyiddin visited several places around Batu parliamentary constituency including Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Perak and Flat Sentul where the residents complained of various maintenance problems.

Speaking at a news conference later, Muhyiddin said he hoped that the government's higher level of commitment would create a new awareness among the people about the BN's ability to help them.

"We want the people to realise that the past is gone and we are now under the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak with a new 1Malaysia vision. Actually the people are beginning to realise this," he said.

There were already positive signs based on the people's response to the programmes organised by the government and party, he said.

- Bernama