KOTA BARU, Jan 28 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today hailed non-governmental organisations for  playing the role of the third force in developing the country.

Najib said that he had his own dreams on developing Malaysia to be a first class country and that he did not feel that he was alone in the mission because of the support shown by NGOs all along.

“NGOs are opinion leaders. They can bring about change at the grassroots level because the government cannot do everything by itself.

“With NGOs acting as the third force, it only makes the government stronger and more effective,” he told some 1,500 members of the Kelantan NGOs Coalition which represents the various ethnic groups in the state, at a leading hotel here today.

Also present were International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub, Kelantan Federal Development Department director Datuk Yahaya Mamat and the coalition’s chairman Datuk Abdul Aziz Derashid.

The Prime Minister also urged the coalition to choose the right leaders so that all plans for the betterment of the people could be realised.

“We cannot talk about our dreams so long as we don’t get the mandate. So support when the time comes because soon we will be celebrating (winning the election). We want to build a brighter future for Malaysia and we don’t want Kelantan to be left behind.

“We want Kelantan on board as we march forward to a better future, that is why Kelantan should be led by the Barisan Nasional (BN),” he said.

Kelantan has been ruled by opposition party PAS since 1990.

Najib also said the federal government planned to build a new stadium in the state to encourage youths to be more active in sports.

“In my meeting with Umno leaders here, they voiced out the need for a new stadium. I certainly want to see this materialise,” he said.

The prime minister also said that many countries in the world have recognised Malaysia as a great nation and that world leaders were also paying tribute to the country.

“Wherever we go, people accept and respect us. People are not only respectful but also accord benefits to Malaysia that others didn’t get, but Malaysia did,” said Najib, referring to the additional Haj pilgrimage quota to Malaysia that was approved by the Saudi Arabian government.

“If Malaysia is a failed state, do you think King Salman would accord us the privilege?,” he said. — Bernama