GE14 | The Barisan Nasional government, once formed after the 14th general election, will need more representation from the Chinese community in the cabinet, Najib Abdul Razak said in Sandakan today.

The caretaker prime minister said this was to ensure that the cabinet had a strong representation from among leaders o all races, which could ensure that all communities in Malaysia are taken care of by the BN government.

Therefore, he said, he hoped that the people would give the mandate to the BN in GE14, including ensuring that Chinese BN candidates win all the seats they are contesting.

“In the last cabinet, there were only three representatives (Chinese ministers) because they (Chinese BN candidates) didn’t do well in the last general election.

“I wish I could have done more (to increase the number of Chinese representation). So, please give us (BN) a strong mandate,” Najib said at a meet-the-people programme with the Sandakan Tionghua community.

Also present were caretaker Sabah chief minister Musa Aman, caretaker Sabah deputy chief minister Raymond Tan Shu Kiah and LDP adviser Chong Kah Kiat, who is a former Sabah chief minister.

Najib, who is BN chairperson, said he hoped that the people, particularly the Chinese community, would not be swayed by the opposition, especially by DAP.

He said that because the people in most Chinese areas voted for DAP candidates in the last election, this led to the cabinet being underrepresented by the Chinese community, at both the federal and state levels.

“Democracy is a game of numbers. With only 23 or 24 percent of the country’s population, the Chinese community cannot form a government.

'Malaysia's economic growth will remain strong'

“But the Chinese, with the other races, can form a strong government. I want strong Chinese representation in BN because I want to take this country to greater heights,” he said.

Najib said the Chinese community, which was made up mostly of entrepreneurs and corporate leaders, stood to gain more by supporting BN.

He said the International Monetary Fund had projected that Malaysia’s economic growth would remain strong after recording an impressive 5.8 percent growth last year.

“We can do it (record higher economic growth this year) because the global market is waiting for a strong mandate and when BN forms the government after GE14, there will be a bull run in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange.

“When market confidence soars higher, who will benefit? Most of you (Chinese community) will benefit because most of you are corporate leaders. You know how to make money,” he said.

Najib said the BN had proven its track record in steering Malaysia’s economy, especially after he became the prime minister and managed to steer the country away from the economic recession in 2008 and two years ago, in 2016.

On Sabah, he said he had proven his commitment towards the state and would carry on with his commitment when BN wins GE14.

“We (BN) have all the plans laid out to make Sabah grow in terms of tourism and economic development. But you (the people) have to give us (BN) the right result (mandate).

“The other side (opposition) is uncertain. Don’t take a gamble. Be calm and rational. An election is about choosing the right government to make your life better,” he said.

When meeting reporters at the programme, Najib also announced that the parliamentary constituency of Batu Sapi will get a new secondary school, SMK Batu Sapi 2, to address the overcrowding of students at the constituency’s only secondary school, SMK Batu Sapi.

“A site (for the new school) has been identified. It will be up to the ministry (Ministry of Education) to work out the cost (of construction). It is usually about RM30 million or so for a standard SMK design”, he said.

- Bernama