Big wins by pro-govt student groups proof Gen-Y understands govt's struggle - Najib

The big wins by pro-government group Pro-Aspirasi in the recent campus elections in public universities is proof that Gen Y understands the struggle of the Barisan Nasional (BN) government, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said it was the first time in public universities elections history that the pro-government group won in all the seven (public universities) campus elections held so far.

"Who says we don't cut it with Gen Y? They will support, on the condition we can show our struggle to them, make them understand what our policies stand for, the objectives of our struggle and the way we go about it," he said when opening the new building of Muar UMNO here Sunday.

Najib, who is also UMNO president, said the elections were historical because for the first time the pro-opposition Pro-Mahasiswa faction which had monopolised campus elections at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Malaya (UM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) was defeated by the pro-government group this time.

"If they (Gen Y) understand, they can accept that their future lies in us winning. Their existence at the universities is also because of us," said Najib.

In the public universities campus elections for the 2015/2016 term held thus far, Pro-Aspirasi won at UM, UKM, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA), Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) and IIUM.

Also present were Johor Menteri Besar and Johor UMNO chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin; Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron; Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister and UMNO Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Muar UMNO chief Datuk Razali Ibrahim.