Kedah folks felt overwhelmed today when they received free helmets, sunglasses and a five percent discount for traffic summonses ahead of the national Chinese New Year Open House celebrations in Sungai Petani today.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who attended the event, later highlighted the lavish celebrations and facilities for Kedahans to demonstrate BN's commitment to the state.

"How can we not be overwhelmed? These gestures show we are being recognised and appreciated," said local community leader Linda Yee.

Yee, who is also Sungai Petani’s acting MCA Youth chief, said she was shocked today because she was given a chance to speak in front of the country's top leader.

She also cited another instance where she witnessed the generosity of the BN government.

"I was invited to a meeting at the District Office one day. They were giving out food donations to the senior citizens. There were tears in their eyes," she added, saying the donations included food which was important for the Chinese New Year festival.

"They love us so much, why not we love them back?" she asked.

As a representative of SMK Bakar Arang's Parent-Teacher Association, Yee then asked for the state government to approve a RM240,000 allocation for a hall for the school.

Najib: We will help Kedah

About 5,000 people attended this year’s national Chinese New Year open house at Aman Mall, which was held by the Tourism and Culture Ministry.

Cheers greeted Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor when they arrived at the event at 8.50pm, clad in bright red matching clothes.

Accompanying the duo were Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz, and Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai, who is also MCA president.

They tossed yee sang and were invited to beat a Chinese gong before fireworks lit up the sky to mark the celebrations.

During his speech, Najib praised Yee for her fluency in Bahasa Malaysia.

He hinted at Yee's candidacy for the national polls when he said, "I am not sure whether she is going to be a candidate or not?".

He urged Malaysians to not only be fluent in their mother tongue and English, but also speak the national language well.

Najib then said he would help Kedah in any way possible.

"We will not let anyone put Kedah down. If we are bankrupt, how can we build the Langkawi International Airport? How can the Kedah MB approve a RM240,000 allocation for the Bakar Arang school hall?" he asked.

"If we are bankrupt, how can we organise such a huge celebration in Sungai Petani?" he added.

"The opposition is talking ‘auta’ (nonsense) instead of ‘fakta’ (facts)," he quipped.

Najib then said he does not know about the advantages of the rooster or dog year, but according to economists, Malaysia will continue to successfully move forward.

"In the 70s and 80s, Sungai Petani only had one (government) rest house. There were no hotels. That's where we use to have our meetings. This is all due to the generosity of the BN government," Najib said.

Kedah MB Bashah urged Kedahans not to be influenced by the political agendas of certain quarters.

"They try to dismiss BN's good work but as the prime minister says, individuals are not strong, the party and government are," Bashah said.

"Everyone should hold on to this principle so we won't divert from our original struggle," he added.