PARLIAMENT The federal government's relationship with both the Penang and Selangor state governments is an example of the government building better relations under its National Reconciliation Programme, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said.

In a written answer to Abdul Hadi Awang (Marang-PAS) in Parliament today, Najib illustrated the recent signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on water with the Selangor state government and the opening of the second Penang bridge as examples.

Both Selangor and Penang are ruled by the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat.

Najib also referred to the federal government's engagement with the PAS-led Kelantan state government.

"Clearly we are a government that walks the talk and is big hearted," he said.

Najib said that the national reconciliation was not just for “appeasement” and to give in to the demands of certain quarters.

“We must rise above party politics, put aside ideological differences for the sake of nation-building,” he said.