Sungai Besar is starting point to wrest back Selangor - Najib

Barisan Nasional (BN) victory in the Sungai Besar Parliamentary by-election yesterday is a starting point to wrest back Selangor in the next general election.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said there was hope for change following BN's massive victory in Sungai Besar.

"Recapturing Selangor begins in Sungai Besar, we give the momentum for BN to regain Selangor, we fight as a strong team and do not lose focus towards the next general election.

"This is not about the UMNO election, it's about the next general election, we must work hard, serve the people and we have proved that BN is accepted by all races in which our candidate has gained the support not only from the Malays but also the Chinese and Indians," he said.

He was addressing BN supporters celebrating the victory of BN candidate Budiman Mohd Zohdi in the by-election.

However, Najib reminded party members and machinery not to consider BN's landslide victories in the Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections as completed but instead should continue to go to the ground to be with the people.

The Prime Minister said he wanted to see BN members continue demonstrating the fighting spirit of the two by-elections machinery and not to get carried away with the impressive victories.

He said they were also the results of the consensus and cooperation of all BN component parties and at the same time proved the party's capabilities in governing the country compared to the opposition.

Najib said the people should not put their trust in a pact that had no consensus as shown by the opposition because the future of this country was not something that could be put at stake for the sake of future generations.

"We (BN) can bring progress, guarantee the future, solve the people's problems, determine the peace and bring Malaysia to success," he said.

Najib, who is also BN chairman, said the people of this country cannot place their future in the hands of a 91-year-old individual (referring to former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad).

Najib added that Tun Mahathir's action was not consistent with his past stand and was like a person who had no dignity and principle.

"We will fight him all the way, his deceit, what does he want to say, go ahead and mock me, I am a gentleman, I am Idi Amin of Malaysia (former Uganda president), the Malaysian Idi Amin is more popular, what is the answer, the people have answered, the people have rejected Mahathir Mohamad, the people have rejected the people's declaration, the people don't want all these," he said.

According to Najib, the people are not in need of anything borne by the former prime minister but on the other hand they want a government which is capable of helping them and one that can assure the future.

On the success of BN in boosting the vote majority in Sungai Besar, Najib said it was beyond expectation and far off the mark from what was expected by many.

"Many didn't expect it, some said we will win because the previous majority was only 399, some said we can win by maybe 2,000 votes, maybe 3,000 but yesterday I said I want more than 5,000.

"Some say I am greedy, so victory not possible, but thank god, our prayers were granted, god gave an extraordinary win, beyond our expectation, majority with a truly beautiful figure, 9,191 (in Sungai Besar)," he said.

He also recorded his appreciation to the voters in Kuala Kangsar who also gave a big majority win to the BN candidate with a number which he also deemed as beautiful, 6,969.

"I wish to thank (Perak UMNO Liaison Committee chairman) Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, our victorious candidate Datin Mastura (Mohd Yazid) and all who had served (in Kuala Kangsar)," he said.

He said, although he had to weather criticism and insult, with perseverance, Allah had ensured victory (to BN) in both by-elections.