Kuala Lumpur: Riding a wave of popularity, Malaysian Premier Najib Razak on Monday said it was “very important” for the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to be re-elected in the next general election for delivering a “real” transformation and achieving the vision of making the country a developed nation by 2020.
The majority component of the ruling alliance is United Malay National Organisation (UMNO), while the other two main partners are the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) representing the ethnic Indians and the Malaysian Chinese Association. UMNO, in its 65 years of existence and as the backbone of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition, has been in power continuously for more than 54 years. Najib, who is also the UMNO President, said that victory in next year’s polls would also ensure that the country’s vision to be a developed country in 2020 can be achieved. “We are embarking on this journey — (of) economic, political and social transformation …. UMNO will spearhead the nation’s transformation together with our friends in the BN, and we will continue the march towards Vision 2020,” he said.
The Premier noted that there was, however, “a little challenge ahead”.
Though the party has never lost elections, the last polls in August 2008 saw the ruling party winning by a slender margin after several voters, especially ethnic Indians, leaned towards the opposition, upset over alleged marginalisation, a charge denied by the government. The government has since been all out to win back the lost seats. Najib made the remarks at the opening of an international forum on “Politics of Economic and Social Transformation in the Era of Global Crisis” in conjunction with the UMNO General Assembly 2011, here.Najib said the party needed to show its earnestness to give the best to the nation, now and in the future. “The very fact that as a political party we are ahead of the curve, we were willing to reform, we were willing to change, that to me is one of the secrets underpinning our success as a political party,” he said. Though elections are due only next year, political analysts feel that polls could be announced earlier. (PTI)