Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Sunday attributed Malaysia's securing of a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council also to its success as a multiracial and multireligious nation.
"We can show the world in a humble way through our concept of moderation and politics of compromise," he said when opening the 43rd national delegates conference of Gerakan at the Setia City Convention Centre here.
Najib said the Barisan Nasional (BN) rejected any form of extremism in its efforts to build the nation in accordance with the foundation laid by past leaders.
Past leaders had drawn up the Federal Constitution based on the politics of compromise and they believed in national integration and not racial assimilation, he said.
"We have Bahasa Melayu as the national language but allow the use of other languages in the country; we also have Islam as the official religion but we allow the practice of other religions without any prohibition," he said.
Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Keong, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, PPP president Tan Sri M. Kayveas and former Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon were also present at the opening ceremony.
Najib, who is also BN chairman, said Gerakan's victory in the Teluk Intan parliamentary by-election in May reflected the resurgence of the party.
He praised Mah for his willingness and courage to take the risk of being the BN candidate in the by-election to fight the young Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud fielded by the DAP.
"When the Teluk Intan seat fell vacant, doomsayers felt that it would be difficult for the BN to reverse the 7,313-vote deficit. Many also thought that it will be difficult for the BN to win the seat and that Mah will be committing political suicide if he stood as a candidate.
"I am proud of him and admire him. He was prepared to risk his position as the president of Gerakan. If he were to lose, it will have been impossible for him to defend his position as the president in the moral sense. That was a risk that Mah was prepared to take and he made a political sacrifice," he said.
In the by-election, held on May 31, Mah, who is now a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, beat Dyana Sofya by 238 votes. He polled 20,157 votes to Dyana Sofya's 19,919.
Najib said he wished to see the Teluk Intan by-election victory as the beginning of Gerakan's political resurgence that would culminate in the recapture of Penang from the opposition.
The prime minister said Gerakan should have a comprehensive plan to win over the people of Penang and added that he was convinced the party had the capability to do that.
"We should ask the DAP how many affordable houses they have built (in Penang) and how much of investments they have brought to the state compared with the period when Penang was administered by Gerakan leaders, such as Koh (Tsu Koon).
"Don't keep quiet; attack them with facts, not with lies. They attack us with lies, and that is why we have to have a plan to show the way (to recapture Penang)," he said.
Bernama
Sun Oct 19 2014
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak - Bernama pic
KL20: Shariah-compliant startup revolution
Ringgit dibuka rendah berikutan dolar kekal tinggi menjelang data KDNK AS
Pada 9 pagi, ringgit susut kepada 4.7825/7870 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7765/7780 ketika ditutup pada Rabu.
AWANI Ringkas: Mangsa nahas helikopter dikebumi hari ini
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Terengganu mampu tanggung 50 peratus hutang PTPTN rakyat
Perkara itu boleh dilaksanakan sebagaimana dilakukan kerajaan Sarawak bagi memberi suntikan dan galakan kepada golongan pelajar.
Buruh ladang warga Indonesia maut dipanah petir
Mangsa dikenali sebagai Kamarudin,40, berasal dari Montong Berore, Mataram, Lombok disahkan meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian.
OpenAcademy: How microlearning transforms Malaysia's work landscape?
OpenAcademy, a Malaysian ed-tech startup, directly addresses the critical need for workforce upskilling in Malaysia. Their user-friendly mobile platform delivers microlearning modules focused on practical, industry-relevant digital skills. This empowers Malaysians at all career stages to enhance their skill sets and remain competitive in the evolving digital landscape.
The future of Malaysia's semiconductor industry
The Investment, Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) will draw up a comprehensive strategic semiconductor plan to ensure that malaysia remains the chosen investment destination for this strategic industry. What role does Malaysia currently play in the global semiconductor supply chain, and how do you see this evolving in the coming years?
Mesyuarat PAC: Teliti projek penyelidikan, isu industri sawit negara
MPOB komited untuk menangani isu-isu industri dengan berkesan di samping memperhebat usaha penyelidikan dan pembangunan.
Bantahan perang di Gaza meningkat di universiti, kolej AS
Penunjuk perasaan mendesak agar dihentikan korban awam di Gaza yang kini mencecah lebih 34,000.
MITI optimis prestasi perdagangan lebih baik pada 2024
Tengku Zafrul menjelaskan, MITI juga memperbaharui fokusnya dengan berpaksikan kepada empat tunjang utama iaitu ekonomi, kelestarian, rakyat dan inovasi.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: BN sokong mana-mana calon daripada Kerajaan Perpaduan
Calon yang dipilih berdasarkan persefahaman bersama dalam kalangan BN, Pakatan Harapan (PH) atau parti-parti komponen yang lain.
Teruskan perjuangan bela parti selagi hayat dikandung badan - Tajuddin
Katanya, matlamat beliau hanya untuk membantu parti UMNO kembali bangkit menebus kekalahan pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-15 lalu.
Tengku Zafrul diberi tugas khas - Zahid Hamidi
Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz diberi tugas khas untuk menyusun strategi aktiviti politik di luar kerangka UMNO dan Barisan Nasional (BN).
Kerajaan pandang serius pihak main sentimen rakyat - Asyraf Wajdi
Mesyuarat sepakat agar kerajaan bertindak tegas menurut lunas-lunas perundangan dan tidak berkompromi dengan sebarang tindakan melampau yang boleh menjejaskan kestabilan negara ini.
BN hormati kerusi DUN milik rakan dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan, sokong bakal calon
BN menghormati kerusi DUN Kuala Kubu Baharu yang dimiliki oleh rakan parti dalam Kerajaan Perpaduan dan akan menyokong calon yang dipilih oleh Anwar.
UMNO bertemu akar umbi bagi perkukuhkan parti
Ia bagi memberi penjelasan terhadap isu-isu yang menjadi persoalan buat mereka bagi memperkukuhkan lagi parti itu.
Muhyiddin label kerajaan PH-BN ‘desperado’
Ahli Parlimen Pagoh itu turut mencabar kerajaan isytiharkan enam kerusi Parlimen dan satu kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri Selangor dikosongkan.
BN sedia letak calon jika enam kerusi bersatu dikosongkan - Ahmad Zahid
Barisan Nasional (BN) sedia meletakkan calon bagi merebut kembali kerusi disandang Ahli Parlimen Bersatu sekiranya pengosongan enam kerusi berkenaan berlaku.
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Rabu, 28 Februari 2024.
Mahkamah tolak rayuan calon BN, Mas Ermieyati kekal Ahli Parlimen Masjid Tanah
Mas Ermieyati kekal Ahli Parlimen Masjid Tanah selepas Mahkamah Persekutuan menolak rayuan calon BN untuk membatalkan kemenangannya dalam Pilihan Raya Umum ke-15 (PRU15).