Malaysia's BN counts on its management record in GE13
Updated 29 April 2013, 22:09 AEST
Six days away from polling day, the opposition Pakatan Rakyat is claiming strong support in the key southern state of Johor, the birth-place of the ruling Malay party, UMNO.
Senior UMNO figure, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan says BN is confident its record will stand it in good stead with voters.
Datuk Abdul Rahman, who's BN secretary-general for another key state, Sabah, says campaign slogans won't put food on the table.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speaker: Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan; incumbent MP for Kota Belud; BN secretary-general for Sabah state
DAHLAN: Well, I look at the history of Pakatan Rakyat's campaign outings. If you look back to 2011, in the Sarawak state election, Pakatan Rakyat had huge turnouts at their 'ceramahs' or their campaign talks. But when voting started, not only did we win the state handsomely, but we won it with a two-thirds majority - a super majority in the state of Sarawak.
LAM: Johor of course is the birth place of UMNO - so even if you do lose one or two seats, it will be a huge blow symbolically, will it not?
DAHLAN: Look, they (Pakatan) seem to be a little bit more coherent and organised this time around, but I believe and we strongly believe that the government of the day, Barisan Nasional will be returned to power. Not because of anything else, but because we have working policies and we have plans for the greater heights for Malaysia.
LAM: Indeed, the incumbent PM Najib says Johor will miss out on what he calls 'big plans' if the state goes to the Opposition .. what kind of plans does BN have in mind for Johor state?
DAHLAN: Well we are developing the Iskandar Ria - the new township - in fact, it's not a township, it's a totally new economic growth port in the southern tip of peninsular Malaysia, closer to Singapore. And the Prime Minister has very solid relationship with the Singaporean prime minister on a personal level and on professional level, and we believe the Johoreans will be the next state, after Selangor and Penang, to become the most industrialised states in Malaysia. I mean slogans will not put food on the table.
LAM: What do you say to BN critics and also UMNO, that you're resorting to scare tactics - for instance, Najib saying that Johor will 'miss out' if the state goes to the Opposition. Your opposition is saying what BN lacks in policy, it makes up with a big stick. And even the former PM, Mahathir is issuing warnings of racial unrest - is BN resorting to scare tactics?
DAHLAN: No, if you look at anyone coming out with scare tactics, it is the (opposition) Pakatan Rakyat. These are the people saying that "If we lose, and that means there's cheating, and we will take to the streets." They have promised the people of Malaysia a very, very strong demonstration on the streets.
So no, I think what the prime minister is simply, "If you do not vote for BN because we have the programmes, we are not reckless, we are not irresponsible government in terms of our manifesto, then you will lose out on the big, big agenda, which is turning Johor into one of the most industrialised states in Malaysia."
After all, there was a peaceful transition in five states, which Pakatan Rakyat won in 2008.
LAM: You are of course considered, one of the bright, younger lights within UMNO, the new generation of UMNO - a more embracing, multi-racial attitude, if you like. And yet, you have UMNO endorsing the likes of nationalist, some might say racist, entitites, like Perkasa's Ibrahim Ali. Does that frustrate you? Should UMNO be endorsing rightwing nationalists like Ibrahim Ali?
DAHLAN: We're not endorsing him. I mean, individual leaders within UMNO might share some thoughts with Perkasa, but the party itself has not endorsed anyone. There're some people within UMNO, yes, I don't doubt that, who believe and share some visions with Perkasa - but Malaysians will reject parties that they believe will ruin the country. If they feel that Perkasa is some organisation which is detrimental to the nation, their candidates will be defeated - I'm pretty sure of that.
LAM: You're of course, contesting in politically-sensitive Sabah state - would you agree that it's unfortunate that the Sulu intrusion happened, barely a couple of months before polling day?
DAHLAN: Oh, it is unfortnate that some of our security personnel died defending the country - but I think it does not have a major impact on the electoral process. In fact, if you ask me, I think people appreciate what - Sabahans especially - appreciate what Barisan Nasional has done - it was quite swift, there were no civilian casualties, and we have proven once again, that Barisan Nasional, the government is able to look after the security of the state.
LAM: You speak of swift action, but as I recall, it took something like two weeks before the government sent in the military against these intruders?
DAHLAN: Well, exactly - two weeks - you're not talking about two months or two years. We were talking, we were assessing the situation earlier on. But the prime minister's reading at that time, he did not want any bloodshed. Not only we're talking about the intruders - we did not want anyone of our security personnel to be killed.
LAM: Will border security be tightened after this particular incident?
DAHLAN: It is happening right now - we're scrutinising every movement of goods and ships and vessels and individuals across the eastern border of Sabah. And I must commend the security personnel, they've been on a twenty-four/seven watch out and lookout in those areas. So ya, I think we're still pretty safe.
LAM: With just a few days to go before Polling Day, what sort of message do you think BN would like send Malaysian voters?
DAHLAN: Well, our strong points have always stability and peace for the country. Look, we're surrounded by bigger nations, which have some kind of conflicts within their own countries - in southern Philippines, southern Thailand and to a certain degree in Indonesia. But Malaysia as a whole has been blessed. We are a small nation divided by the mighty South China Sea.
And we have been doing a tremendous job in terms of maintaining peace - and that is our main promised programme. Of course, we've been developing the country, throughout the years we've been independent. I think those are the two strongest points.
And number three, our ability to run the country in a democratic way, and the Prime Minister, the driving force, the current prime minister (Najib Razak) is more articulate and is more open to changes. He is a reformist and transformational leader of our country.
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