People's confidence, support gives me strength - Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the confidence and support shown by the people gives him the courage to continue his struggle despite pressure from several quarters lately.

Najib said with the feedback gathered from his visits to several states recently, he was confident the people would continue to support his leadership to proceed with the agenda to develop the country.

"We are gathered here today with about 12,000 people, in fact we can gather 20,000 or even 40,000, after all in Tawau (Sabah), we saw 40,000 people while in Johor 15,000 people turned up.

"I know figures are not everything but I can see the sincerity of all of you present. We will win because we work together and when we believe in our leaders, the party will get stronger but when we fight among ourselves, God will take away our power," he said.

Najib was speaking at the Solidarity 14 Assembly at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base here today which was attended by more than 12,000 people from 14 Pahang UMNO divisions.

The gathering organised by Pahang UMNO Youth was also attended by its chief Shahar Abdullah as well as several party division heads including Maran UMNO division chief, Datuk Seri Ismail Abd Muttalib, and Paya Besar UMNO division head Datuk Abdul Manan Ismail.

Najib also expressed his appreciation to Pahang UMNO Youth for organising the assembly with the support of Pahang UMNO.

He said even though Pahang UMNO Liaision Committee chairman Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob was not present, the Pahang Menteri Besar had asked for undivided support to be given to him from the entire state UMNO machinery.

"The Sultan of Pahang also supports me...from royalty to the people...I am touched by this support and with the mandate given to me, I will do the best for the country and Pahang," he said to resounding cheers from the massive crowd.

Najib said any problem could be resolved without the need to create new conflicts.

"(There are) No problems that cannot be resolved, even in the past when there were problems, I was Tun M's (former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad) lieutenant, I defended him, now it is the turn of the Pemuda to defend me.

"There are no difficulties which cannot be resolved and the confidence shown in me will spur me to protect my area. I want Pahang to be our stronghold and do not try to poison our minds as we will remain strong," he said.

According to him, his election as Prime Minister and UMNO president were carried out by thousands of individuals and UMNO members throughout the country, and as such he cannot just give in to the demand of one individual who wanted him to resign.

"The ship has set its sail, the wind has started to blow, do you want me to turn back, surely not," he said.