PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional’s resounding victories in both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections clearly dispelled claims against his leadership, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
The Prime Minister said his predecessor Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had “dishonourably smeared” Umno by campaigning for his former enemies in the Opposition, using crude language and claiming to speak on behalf of the people.
“Now, with these two huge majority wins and Barisan’s landslide win in the Sarawak election last month, the people have shown their confidence in the coalition.
“They rejected lies, they rejected unworkable coalition of former enemies, and they rejected the incoherent Opposition – partly because of their alignment with Dr Mahathir,” he said in a statement.
Najib added that he was “especially humbled” by the results and thanked the Barisan election machinery led by his deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
“Barisan succeeded because we worked as a team. We prevailed and if we continue to work tirelessly for the people and remain united, we will always prevail.
“As long as I am Prime Minister, the interests of the people will come first and our promises will be delivered,” he said.
Later, when he arrived in Sungai Besar to celebrate the win, Najib said the resounding victory was a morale booster for Barisan to regain Selangor in the next general election.
He said the win had given a new hope and strengthened the struggle of Barisan in the state.
“I do not just want to win here but our victory should serve as a momentum to regain Selangor,” he said in his victory speech at the Umno headquarters late last night.
Najib said Barisan would should continue to work as a team and fight until the very end.
“There is still hope in Selangor. We have proven here in Sungai Besar that this is the beginning of the recovery of Barisan in Selangor,” he said.
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