3 by-elections or Bukit Gantang is no referendum to BN or Najib` s leadership

Nomination day is just over, the countdown to April 7, the big polling day for the 3 by-elections now takes the centerstage.

Often than not as deemed by the opposition, the question –Is the 3 by-elections, especiallyBukit Gantang , a referendum to BN and new UMNO president Datuk Seri Najib Razak, is inevitably asked by all?

When asked, Najib said, "they were not a good indication."

"The only referendum are general elections."

‘Please judge me by my actions’

"You are not being fair if you pre-judge somebody. Please judge me by my actions. My actions will come in due course. I have not even taken office yet. I only ask that I be treated fairly by the press."


Najib added that he has confidence in the new line-up of party leaders and that they will be able to support him and work as a team.

"We make the best of the people the party has chosen. "

"We have promised to make reforms, we have promised to make changes and we will deliver that," he concluded.

Najib told the delegates earlier that he would try and bring Dr Mahathir and Abdullah together and consult both of them on party and national issues.

Meanwhile MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said, this by-election would be an opportunity for the people to decide whether they wanted an elected representative who could offer plans and strategy to overcome the effects of the current economic downturn or a leader who could only prolong the political crisis in Perak through excessive politicking.

Issues are aplenty as alleged by the opposition, amongst which is Bukit Gantang squatters`land issue.




Ong said most of the squatters were fishermen who had stayed on the land which was laid with a railway track connecting Port Weld (now Kuala Sepetang) with Taiping.










“It’s an old problem. There’s a lot of such land used for the railway line but now still occupied by people, mostly families of fishermen. After such a long time, they want to know the status of the land.

“I have instructed KTMB and the Railway Asset Management Corporation to carry out a census to find out the number of households occupying KTMB land there and we will try to solve the problem,” he said after a closed-door dialogue with the Chinese community in Bukit Gantang.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, meanwhile, said“I believe the voters in Perak are mature enough to see what has been achieved by the previous DAP-PKR-Pas state government, and that they would be able to make the right choice on polling day,” he said when met here.

BN, on the other hand, is riding on the new leadership of Umno. Vice president Hishammuddin said that “

the process of returning support to BN has already begun with the new Umno line-up.”


At this time when the country is sailing through global economic turmoil, Najib, Umno and BN, together with the younger voters who make up the "altered political landscape" cannot afford to be sidetracked by local political turbulence or inter-party politicking.

The unnecessary `political bushfires` as like being lit by the government's opponents has to be put off .

No doubt BN was mandated by the people on March 8, 2008 to lead the country but it calls for a joint- force by all parties and rakyat involved.

Voters in 3 by-elections be wise enough to decide on your priority.