Najib thankful BN given mandate to continue heading Sarawak

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak expresses thankfulness at the Barisan National (BN) victory in the 11th Sarawak state election (PRN).

Najib, who is also BN chairman, thanked the voters for their faith in the party.

"Heartiest congratulations to Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who headed the BN election machinery with such excellence.

"I congratulate the BN candidates who have been picked by the people, and do not forget the promises which have been given, serve the people," said Najib in his latest jottings on the website www.najibrazak.com.

Nevertheless, he said the success of BN in the Sarawak election was accompanied by extreme sadness following the helicopter mishap which shook the nation on Thursday.

According to Najib, all six passengers of the helicopter were part of those who had worked with determination to carry out their respective tasks and duties.

"Their commitment, hard work and sacrifices will always be remembered," he said.

To date, the search team had found five bodies and three had been identified as Plantation Industries and Commodities deputy minister Datuk Noriah Kasnon, ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Sundaran Annamalai and Noriah's bodyguard Ahmad Sobri Harun.

Three other victims were Noriah's husband Asmuni Abdullah, Kuala Kangsar MP Datuk Wan Mohammad Khair-il Anuar Wan Ahmad and helicopter AS350 pilot Captain Rudolf Rex Ragas.

In the meantime, the prime minister also promised he would not neglect the mandate obtained by BN in the Sarawak election.

"As Malaysia's Apai Besar, I promise, together with Sarawak's Apai Besar Tan Sri Adenan Satem and also other BN elected representatives, we will not neglect the belief and mandate which you all have given.

"Together, we will ensure Sarawak continues to be peaceful, developing and progressive in line with the national development," he said.