GE13: Pursue a healthy, democratic campaign, urges Najib

KOTA KINABALU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged all quarters to pursue a healthy campaign for the 13th General Election, following two arson attacks within a spate of 24 hours.

An explosion occurred near the Nibong Tebal Barisan Nasional (BN) election operations room in Penang last night, causing minor leg injury to a man, and this morning, two petrol bombs caused a fire at the BN operations room in Sekinchan, Selangor.

The police, who found two improvised explosive devices at the scene, believed the Nibong Tebal incident was aimed at creating tension in the state.

"Political parties vying for parliamentary and state seats should compete in a healthy manner, in tandem with democratic practices," Najib said on Wednesday, during the second day of a whirlwind visit to Sabah.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has asked the police to nab the culprits swiftly because voters might worry about coming out to vote or attend ceramahs by political parties.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has ordered the police to step up checks and patrols near ceramah locations to prevent a recurrence.

"All political parties are reminded to cooperate and apply for ceramah permits from their respective district police chiefs to enable the police to make early preparations to ensure the safety of all," he said after inspecting preparations at the Perak police contingent headquarters.

Najib, who is BN chairman, returned to Sabah on Tuesday for his second visit in less than a fortnight, to meet locals including Chinese, Kadazandusun, Murut and Bajau communities in the west coast and interior highlands to campaign after launching the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in Lahad Datu on April 13.

He unveiled a supplementary manifesto outlining development plans of the state in Tenom earlier today, assuring the people of Sabah that a BN government would fulfill its pledges.

Najib also reiterated that the BN government would do all it could to protect Sabah's peace and sovereignty, in the wake of the Lahad Datu terrorist intrusion.

"The BN's commitment can be witnessed through the decisions and actions taken," he said after attending a lunch gathering with the people at the Keningau Sports Complex.

Najib, who is leading BN into the general electon for the first time as prime minister, praised Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan Pairin for his people-first approach and urged the local community to support Barisan candidates, including Pairin, who is defending the Keningau parliamentary seat and the state seat in his Tambunan hometown. - BERNAMA

(Source: The Star Online)