UMNO's struggle then and now different - PM Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said UMNO had different struggles in the past and present.

Back then, the struggle was largely focused on achieving independence while the focus now is towards national development, he said during a radio broadcast on Friday.

"We need to have a purpose in life as human being. In other words, this life is a struggle.

"In my forty years of service in the government, I had my own struggle which is to develop religion, race and country," said Datuk Seri Najib.

Commenting on a 'former leader' who accused UMNO of deviating from its original struggles, the prime minister said it was an attempt by the said person to lure people to join his new political party.

"Lately, a former leader has been inciting the people and strategising moves from within and out of the country, accusing me of thing he himself was accused for when he was in power.

"He's accused my party for deviating from the struggles during his time (as leader). This is an attempt to lure people to join his party and to divide the Malays.

"It is true our struggles then and now are different. The said person, who is 91-year-old, used to fight for independence. I am now fighting for the nation's development," Datuk Seri Najib said.

He added that plenty of effort have been taken towards meeting that objective.

"We built infrastructures such as the MRT, BRT, LRT, Pan Borneo Highway, RAPID Pengerang and Iskandar Malaysia with the aim to raise the economy and citizen's living standards. Aren't these struggles?

"We provided assistance like Teraju, Tekun, 1Malaysia assistances, PR1MA, e-kasih, UTC, RTC for the people's convenience. Aren't these struggles?

"Have our efforts to develop sports, which went on to achieve excellence, not a struggle?

Datuk Seri Najib added that the former leader has even gone to the extent of cooperating with a leader of a chauvinistic party in an attempt to topple the current government.

"This party leader has been charged with corruption. Who is the one deviating from UMNO's struggles? Let them talk. My cabinet and I will remain committed in upholding our religion, race and country."