Special rights of Malays will be defended alongside the interests of non-Malays when he takes over power in March, M'sian DPM Najib assures.
Mon, Oct 27, 2008The Star
By Hah Foong Lian
IPOH, Malaysia: The special rights of Malays will be defended alongside the interests of non-Malays when he takes over power in March, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
Assuring the people that certain matters would not change such as the social contract, the Federal Constitution and Article 153 on the special rights of Malays, Najib said:
"These we will defend, including the rights of our partners. The non-Malays have their rights and we must protect them too.
"We must never abuse our powers and we do not want others to question what has been enshrined in the Federal Constitution which is the pillar of our nation," he said on Sunday during a Perak Umno Hari Raya gathering here.
The event also saw the attendance of vice-presidents Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, supreme council member Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and other state Barisan Nasional leaders.
Najib said policies could be changed or negotiated but the interest of every race must be looked after.
"The pillar of the nation must be defended at all times and that is the way forward," he added.
Najib pointed out that the power transition in March would also see continuity in beneficial projects initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Among the good projects, he said, were the national mission, Islam Hadhari and the development of corridors.
"Come March, it is not a change of Government but merely a change in leadership and we are still in one family," Najib said.
He noted that he would take care of Abdullah's feelings because he wanted to continue enjoying a cordial relationship with the premier.
Earlier when speaking about the need to re-engineer and re-brand Umno and Barisan, Najib said:
"We cannot change just for the sake of changing but change must be for the better."
Change, he said, should be seen in the aspect of style and substance, adding that they must have humility to prevent being branded as being arrogant.
Mon, Oct 27, 2008The Star
By Hah Foong Lian
IPOH, Malaysia: The special rights of Malays will be defended alongside the interests of non-Malays when he takes over power in March, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
Assuring the people that certain matters would not change such as the social contract, the Federal Constitution and Article 153 on the special rights of Malays, Najib said:
"These we will defend, including the rights of our partners. The non-Malays have their rights and we must protect them too.
"We must never abuse our powers and we do not want others to question what has been enshrined in the Federal Constitution which is the pillar of our nation," he said on Sunday during a Perak Umno Hari Raya gathering here.
The event also saw the attendance of vice-presidents Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, supreme council member Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan and other state Barisan Nasional leaders.
Najib said policies could be changed or negotiated but the interest of every race must be looked after.
"The pillar of the nation must be defended at all times and that is the way forward," he added.
Najib pointed out that the power transition in March would also see continuity in beneficial projects initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Among the good projects, he said, were the national mission, Islam Hadhari and the development of corridors.
"Come March, it is not a change of Government but merely a change in leadership and we are still in one family," Najib said.
He noted that he would take care of Abdullah's feelings because he wanted to continue enjoying a cordial relationship with the premier.
Earlier when speaking about the need to re-engineer and re-brand Umno and Barisan, Najib said:
"We cannot change just for the sake of changing but change must be for the better."
Change, he said, should be seen in the aspect of style and substance, adding that they must have humility to prevent being branded as being arrogant.