Pak Lah: Vote wisely

K. Suthakar / The Star Newspaper / 8 Mar 2008
 

KEPALA BATAS: Come out and vote wisely for our future, our children's future and the country — that was Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's advice to Malaysians who will cast their ballots today.

"The people will vote on what is best for the country. I cannot force them," he said in an interview with The Star group chief editor Datuk Wong Chun Wai and TV3's Fuad Abdul Rahman at the Barisan Nasional chairman's residence here last night.

The interview was telecast live over TV3. Abdullah said the people should come out to vote even if there was a drizzle.

"It's okay if you get wet a little. The vote is important for the country's future. If everyone comes out, I'm confident there is hope for the Barisan Nasional to win by a two-thirds majority," he said.

Abdullah reminded voters to ponder on their future and whether there would be internal strife in the country.

"If there are problems, our country's economy will not be stable and there will be repercussions," he added.

He said the country's prosperity and development was meant for all and there was no attempt by the Government to sideline anyone.

In the run-up to the elections, he said there was a tendency by certain quarters to rake up racial sentiments to fish for votes.

"This is not healthy as we (Barisan) give priority to unity and co-operation among all races based on what is good for them and the country," he said.

On Kelantan, Abdullah said that more people were supporting the Barisan, especially after the naming of Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin as Mentri Besar-designate if the coalition captured the state from PAS.

He advised party leaders there to work hard to canvass for votes, saying they should not rest on their laurels.

Abdullah said he was confident that voters in Terengganu would opt for the Barisan as there has been much development there in the past four years after the Barisan wrested the state from PAS in the last general election.

He said there were some problems when Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh dropped many incumbents but the problems have since been resolved.

Abdullah also described as "very unfortunate" the act by a group of men to detain buses carrying university students in Kuala Terengganu after thinking that they were phantom voters.

Regretting the incident, he said it showed that there was tendency by opposition supporters to act violently.

"They do things without thinking, just based on assumptions. If such is their behaviour, it can disturb the voting process today," he said.

Abdullah said voters should be given the opportunity to vote peacefully.

"If the voters are coming in buses, what is wrong with it as even PAS brings back its supporters from Kuala Lumpur to vote in Kelantan just like Umno?" he said.