Translation of transcript of TV3 interview with Najib

KUALA LUMPUR: The following is the English translation of the transcript of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's interview with Media Prima News and Editorial Operations executive director Datuk Ahmad A. Talib on TV3's 2013 Mandate programme tonight (May 4).

Question: Welcome to the Mandate Studio, Datuk Seri. I notice that Datuk Seri is busy traversing the country, hardly taking any break. Where do you get your energy from?

PM: Firstly, I have been training myself. I have done workouts at the gym, two or three times a week, I have engaged a trainer because health and physical condition are important to determine our fitness.

However, what is more important is our commitment and determination to do the best because I know I'm shouldering the trust of the people and the country. When I assumed office as the prime minister, I had made a pledge to myself, to the people that I will do my level best.

Question: Datuk Seri looks slim

PM: Thank you. That's what I hope.

Question: Datuk Seri, you have travelled across the country and met hundreds of thousands of people, what actually touches your heart?

PM: Not only the response was very lively. In some places, it was ecstatic, the response was overwhelming. That's what touched my feeling when I saw a large crowd and they greeted me, some of them did not want to let go my hand. So, thank God, it seems the people's response to the BN leadership has reached a confidence level.

Najib: We need a strong mandate

KUALA LUMPUR : ANYTHING less than a strong mandate for  Barisan Nasional  can  lead to instability in the country, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

This was because there was a need to continue with the current robustness of the country's stock market and strong showing by the ringgit.

Najib said this when asked about several analyses and polls that suggested a likely "hung Parliament" scenario following the 13th General Election on May 5.

"That is not a good outcome for the country. Anything less than a strong mandate will lead to great uncertainty.

"The markets, during the last few days, have become more positive.

"The stock exchange and the ringgit have grown stronger, so I think it bodes well for the general election," Najib told Al Jazeera's Veronica Pedrosa during the Talk to Al Jazeera programme, which started airing yesterday.

Najib: Umno on track to change

Najib during his interview with ‘Talk to Al Jazeera’, journalist Veronica Pedrosa which was aired last Saturday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak speaks to Veronica Pedrosa in `Talk to Al Jazeera', which was aired last Saturday.

Al Jazeera: Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, thank you very much for joining us on "Talk To Al Jazeera". We appreciate that it must be an extraordinarily busy and crucial time for you. There are descriptions of the election ahead as being indeed a struggle for the Malay soul, as it were. Do you think that's a fair enough description?

Najib: Let me put it this way, I think this will be a very hard-fought, robust election but I welcome it because in a sense, it is reflective of how far we have come in the democratic process in Malaysia. We are much more matured in that sense. But as a political party, we have been in power for 55 years (and) within this time we have brought some real changes and development in Malaysia. So although I expect this to be a keenly-fought contest, I am cautiously optimistic that the voters will return the Barisan Nasional (BN) national front back into power.

How do you personally feel about that? You've been in politics since you were 22. You come from a political dynasty.

In that sense (yes) but my father died when I entered politics so he was not there to ensure that I rose in politics. I had to do it my way, albeit with a good family name, I have no doubt about that. That helped but I had to fend for myself. I had to show that I could stand on my own. I'm proud of my personal record because I have risen through the ranks step by step and now I am privileged and honoured to be able to lead this country and my party.

Agent For Change: A Q&A With The PM On How The Things He Does Are 'For The Good of The Nation'

 PUTRAJAYA: Much wiser after four years, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak did not mince words, saying Umno has to run faster to catch up with him.

"Change or you will be changed," Najib warned.

Showing the political maturity wanted of many leaders, Najib also threw this challenge to Pakatan Rakyat: "For the good of the nation, set up a formal coalition, put up a shadow cabinet and we can sit down as mature leader."

Najib said all these and more to The Malay Mail journalists in an exclusive interview which lasted well part midnight in Seri Perdana on Sunday.

The Malay Mail (TMM): After the Umno AGM, are you more confident that you have managed to consolidate the party in time for the elections... you know, all the various "factions"?

NAJIB: I believe Umno is a much invigorated party after the clarion call I made, about four years ago, that we need to go through a process of self analysis, self criticism to know what we need to do to overcome the weaknesses and shortcomings that led to the political tsunami of 2008.

... also for us to consolidate ourselves and work on a plan to strengthen and revive Umno. I see that coming to a head, so to speak. All the work we've done over the last four years have come to fruition at this assembly because I see Umno with renewed vigor... a much more united Umno.

Of course, we still need to look at some of the internal challenges we have. That goes with every political party, there will always be differences of opinion. But, by and large, people want to work together to achieve a big victory for Umno and Barisan Nasional.

 TMM: Do you see more seriousness in Umno, this time (in responding to your calls to change face new realities)?

NAJIB: I do! I do see a stronger spirit, and they're heeding my call. For example we should be more inclusive, Umno should lead the way, we should take care of the Malays as well as the other races in the country.

I think that's gone through the assembly because people didn't ridicule or knock down the other races (this time) and there was none of the sensitive racial statements or terminologies that were used before.

This is a much more balanced and much more matured assembly, an assembly that is primed to go to battle, so to speak.