DPM calls on Malaysians to preserve harmony and prosperity to ensure development

MUAR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called on all races in the country to preserve harmony and prosperity which had long been achieved to enable the government to plan for development by the year 2020.
The deputy prime minister said every ethnic group must join hands with the government in ensuring that the strong solidarity continued to be preserved by avoiding conflicts between the races.
"InsyaAllah (God willing), we want to transform the country into a developed nation in 2020 and in this regard, we must maintain the existing peace and harmony.
"We don't want the nation to become like other countries where quarrels occurred frequently, and if this happens, it will be difficult for the government to develop the country," he said at the Chinese New Year gathering for the Pagoh parliamentary constituency at the Poh Ling Dian Hall, here today.
Also present were his wife, Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, Bukit Serampang State Assemblyman Ismail Mohamed and Pagoh MCA division head Datuk Lim Pei Heng.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Pagoh, said the presence of more than 2,000 people of various races at the gathering proved that the community lived in peace and harmony.
"This also proves that the Chinese community here, especially the MCA, accepts what the government has done," he said.
As such, he said, the government pledged to continue to look after the welfare of all races in the country although it realised that this was not easy to carry out.
"It is like a husband and wife where there are problems occasionally but they are eventually resolved amicably," he said.
Muhyiddin also said that it was the government policy not to marginalise any group because this would be unhealthy for prosperity.
On Pagoh, Muhyiddin said much progress had been achieved in the parliamentary constituency and hoped that many more important matters that had been planned would become a reality in future.
"I am told that the value of real estate in Pagoh has gone up significantly and this proves that there is progress and several plans for the better have already been implemented," he said.
Among other things, he said, there were plans to transform Pagoh into a top educational hub besides making the parliamentary constituency as a route for the rapid train network between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
"I have held discussions with several parties including the Land Public Transport Commission on the plan to place Pagoh on the main route for the rapid train system," he said.
On the senior citizen centre proposed by the MCA, Muhyiddin welcomed the proposal and agreed on the construction of a centre which could house the senior citizens together to carry out their activities.
"I want to see Pagoh emerging as a new growth centre and hope whatever we have planned will become a reality," he added. – Bernama