‘Give us a chance’, PM asks Chinese

Datuk Seri Najib Razak tonight celebrated the Lunar New Year by asking the Chinese community to give the government a chance to prove itself.

“Give us chance and we will prove that we are a government that can do the best for the people,” the prime minister said at the national Chinese New Year celebrations at the Pandamaran New Village here.

Najib urged the 5,000-strong crowd not to be disheartened by the recent attacks on houses of worship, linked to the “Allah” issue, but to take these as a challenge and a lesson.

“It’s a challenge that we should unite as one people, nation and 1 Malaysia,” he told the crowd.

Najib said the incidents were the work of extremists and not an indication that his 1 Malaysia policy had failed but instead showed that it was needed.

Heavy rain earlier marred and delayed tonight’s celebrations but Najib was unperturbed when he arrived at about 9pm.

During his speech, he joked that rain was “ong (Hokkien for ‘lucky’)” or an indication of good luck.

He said many had predicted the event would not be successful and lamented that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government had torn down banners of him because proper forms were not filled.

Najib also lashed out at the Selangor state government for holding their Chinese New Year celebrations at the same time, purportedly so that many would not make it to Pandamaran.

But the prime minister expressed his gratitude to the crowd that welcomed him despite the rain and clashing state celebrations.

Other BN dignitaries present at tonight’s affair included MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim.

news courtesy of Malaysian Insider