KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 — Twelve Barisan Nasional (BN) component party leaders today unanimously expressed “full and undivided support” for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s stewardship of the coalition and the country.
In the press conference led by MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, the party chiefs, however, declined to specify the reason for their sudden declaration of allegiance.
“We, all the component party presidents of Barisan Nasional, would like to declare our full and undivided support to our prime minister and chairman of Barisan Nasional Datuk Seri Najib Razak for his leadership and we will be standing all the way behind him to lead Barisan Nasional to ensure the transformation of country continues and we are confident that the national transformation will achieve its target before the year 2020,” Liow told reporters in Parliament.
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, who is also the Parti Persaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) president, said today’s move was to “avoid any unnecessary speculation” over Najib’s support, but did not explain further.
“This is a unanimous decision. There is no dissenting voice and that includes all component parties of Barisan Nasional in Sabah and Sarawak, and the peninsula,” he said from his seat to Liow’s left.
Embattled MIC president Datuk G. Palanivel, whose own presidency is being challenged, was seated to Liow’s right.
Liow said it is important for the component parties to be together and “united and to be strong to face all these challenging years”, especially in their effort to transform the ruling coalition.
“We stand together as one in Barisan Nasional to support our prime minister,” he said.
Earlier this month, Umno division leaders also gathered in a show of solidarity with Najib, during which the party president explained to them the controversy surrounding 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
