Unity Is Priceless- M'sian Pm Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 (Bernama) -- Najib Razak has expressed happiness at the strong unity and harmony shown by the people and leaders of various races who attended open house events in conjunction with the Chinese New Year. Saying that unity is priceless, the prime minister said unity and harmony cannot be taken for granted and should be continuously nurtured as a celebrated tradition among Malaysians. He also wished the Chinese community a Happy Chinese New year and expressed the hope that the year would bring about a stronger growth for Malaysia and prosperity for the people. "According to the Chinese belief, this year is the Year of the Water Dragon and is considered good for business. "Let's hope that this year will see the country's economy strengthening further and there will be more prosperity for the people," he said during a live telecast with Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) while attending the Malaysian Chinese Association open house at Wisma MCA, here. The MCA is a component party of the ruling Barisan Nasional (National Front-BN) coalition. Meanwhile, Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor also extend her Chinese New Year greetings to the Malaysian Chinese community, in particular Permata Negara participants and the country's women. "I hope that they can spend time visiting their Chinese friends and strengthen the bonds of friendships among us Malaysians," she said. Najib was greeted on arrival at the MCA open house by party president Dr Chua Soi Lek, amid the beating of the drums and dragon and lion dance performance. Present were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Norainee Abdul Rahman as well as former prime ministers Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Cabinet ministers and other BN leaders including Gerakan president Dr Koh Tsu Koon, MIC president G. Palanivel and PPP president M. Kayveas were also at the open house. They later performed the "prosperity toss" or the mixing of the raw fish and vegetable salad known as Yee Sang, a unique feature of the celebration in Malaysia. At the Gerakan open house at the party's headquarters in Cheras, Najib said the BN would continue with people-oriented programmes and help those in the low and medium income group. "I hope that with these efforts, people would be able to see our success in caring for their plights," he said in a live interview with TV3. Asked on the support among to the Chinese community to his leadership, Najib, or affectionately known as "Ah Jib Gor" or "Brother Najib" -- the name used in his recently-launched Chinese Facebook -- said he would work harder to win their support. "History has shown that the Chinese community has always had high confidence in the BN; only in the last general election the support had somewhat decreased. I hope that through continuous effort, we will be able to gain more support from the community," he said. -- BERNAMA