The people want 9MP to succeed says Pak Lah
The Star – 18/4/2006  
KUCHING: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his Barisan Nasional Government are determined to ensure the success of the Ninth Malaysia Plan (9MP) as this will be the best way to answer the critics.  
The Prime Minister described this as his way of “walking the talk.”  
He said many had asked him to “walk the talk” after the strong mandate given to the Barisan in the last general election.  
“People have been saying all kinds of things against the Government. Some said we had no sense of direction and were not clear of what to do for the future. All sorts of questions were raised over the effectiveness of the Government.   
“Let me say it very clearly – the 9MP is the answer to the many criticisms against me and the Government,” he said during a state Barisan dinner held at the chief minister’s residence here yesterday.  When he tabled the 9MP in Parliament last month, Abdullah described the plan as a national mission and the start of the second phase to achieve Vision 2020.  Abdullah added that after coming to power with such massive support, he was duty-bound to fulfil the promises made by the Barisan and come up with something to take the country forward. He again urged everyone to accept the 9MP as a national mission.   
“Have a sense of mission and be passionate about it. The Barisan must work hard to achieve all the objectives of the plan.  
“The fact that everyone hopes that the 9MP would be implemented effectively means that the people support the plan and want it to succeed.”  The 9MP, Abdullah added, would also be used as the focus of the Sarawak state election manifesto.  
“Barisan must win the upcoming election convincingly. Be united as the people won’t want to vote for a squabbling Barisan.”  Earlier, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said the state Barisan was fine-tuning its list of candidates and strategies, following which the list would be submitted to Abdullah for approval.  Taib, also the state coalition chairman, said he wanted to increase the number of female candidates as women could help tackle social problems.  
“Women have the secret key to the hearts of the people. We recognise that women are playing a more important role and they have always been campaigning hard during the elections,” he added.  
Source: The Star | http://thstar.com.my