Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the Chinese had prospered under BN rule owing to their hard work and “strategic position” in the economy, pointing out that many of Malaysia’s richest tycoons — who have a “licence to print money” via concession agreements — came from the community.
“You are very, very entrepreneurial, certainly compared to the Bumis. You are very industrious. You work hard. Some of you are thrifty but you’re rich because you’re thrifty. And you know how to do business.
“And if you have a government that believes in growth, (there will be) great opportunities. Tell me who will benefit? You will benefit,” he said in his keynote address at the “Malaysian Chinese at the Political Crossroads” conference here.
Chinese-language daily Nanyang Siang Pau reported earlier this week that 80 per cent of the 40 richest Malaysians are Chinese, led by sugar and palm oil baron Tan Sri Robert Kuok, with a net worth of RM30.3 billion
But Najib stressed that the Chinese will continue to do well economically only if the country remained stable, which he said would only happen if there was no change in government and BN stayed in power.
“If this country is in the state of disorder and even uncertainty - don’t talk about chaos - your shares will plummet.”
He pledged that the BN government will listen to the wishes of the Chinese and improve the ease of doing business, as long as the requests were “fair and reasonable”.
The government will continue to change for the better, Najib also said, stressing that transformation was superior to PR’s cry of reformasi (reformation).
“Reformasi is about demanding change, demonstrating in the streets, creating chaos. But transformation is orderly, systematic, well-planned change for this country,” he said to loud claps from the mainly MCA crowd.
Najib added that Malaysia was at the crossroads now, and urged the Chinese to “make the right choice” in the next general election so the country could transform and rise above other nations economically and politically as a “great nation”.
“I’m listening to you and I’d like to do even more. But I can only do more if I have the support and the mandate,” he said.
“I’m seeking the mandate of the people for the first time. I have the mandate of BN, I have the mandate as president of Umno, but I’m seeking the mandate of the Malaysian people.
