'BN the only choice for Malaysians'

Datuk Seri Najib Razak on Thursday urged all Umno members to stay united to defend Putrajaya and stressed that the Malaysian people deserved only the best government that only Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) could offer.

The prime minister said the 13th general election would be the decisive point for the future of the country and the people should be able to judge for themselves the advantage of choosing BN over the opposition.

He said Parti Perikatan, later known as BN, had been ruling the country and making various changes and developments over the past 55 years, while the opposition just tried to take over power by offering false promises and spreading lies and mirage.

"The options are clear. Whether to see our children, regardless of race and religion, laugh, grow up and enjoy their lives together or to see them grow up with burning hatred.

Najib said this in his policy speech at the 66th General Assembly at Putra World Trade Centre here today.

"This general election will determine the future of the country which we will leave for our children. It's whether (to give them) a fully-developed country built on common values and objectives, or an under-developed country blocked by an invisible wall of prejudice.

"In one corner, there is a holy path which has been there since Independence and was built with blood and sweat of our patriots.

"In another corner, there is a mazy and dark path built with lies and false promises of the opposition. If the people were duped to choose the second path, believe me, this lovely country will disintegrate, collapse and sink," he said.

However, he said Umno would not allow the country to be destroyed by false promises offered by the opposition, let alone to let the people suffer in their own country.

Come what may, Najib said Umno would not retreat from fighting for the people and the country.

While admitting that no individuals, leaders, organisations or political parties were faultless, Najib said Umno would also like to ask for forgiveness for all its weaknesses.

"As Umno president, I, on behalf of the deputy president and the party leadership line-ups and in the name of Allah and His Prophet, solemnly swear and promise to continue putting the people's wellbeing first, lifting the status of the Malays, defending the faith of Muslims and upholding Islam," he said.

Najib also reminded Umno members that Umno's victory in the next general election would depend on various factors, especially the voters and the candidates.

"The reality now is that the people's support for the national and state leadership is not necessarily translated into votes for party candidates. In the good old days, those fielded by the party were always winnable, but it is not the case now," he said.

As such, Najib said the candidates fielded by the party should have added- values to ensure that they were not only accepted by party members, but also by the voters.