Klang Little India spiced up by Najib’s visit

KLANG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib’s visit to Little India here today spiced up the atmosphere at the busy shopping haven for Ponggal shoppers and businesses alike.

Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor arrived here  after visiting Pasar Jawa where he had breakfast at Emporium Klang followed by a walkabout at the market.

He had earlier launched the Pongal Festival 2013 or ganised by Selangor BN at Padang Chetti where more than  5,000 people gathered.

The people received packets of rice, flour and spices  together with sugarcanes and RM20 voucher to buy Ponggal  essentials at three provision stores at Little India.

Najib: Vote back BN in S'gor, keep BN in Putrajaya

Prime Minister Najib Razak has called on the people of Selangor to vote in the BN to form the Selangor government and retain the BN as the federal government in the next general election.

"Do not change the federal government; change the (Selangor) state government; retain the BN in Putrajaya," he said at the ‘Ponggal' (Harvest) Festival 2013 in Klang.

Najib said the people of Selangor had heeded the call of the opposition to vote in the Pakatan Rakyat opposition pact in the last general election, in 2008.

He asked the people of Selangor to assess whether the Pakatan state administration had really solved the problems faced by them, including the Indian community, in the state.

The Pakatan state government had failed to solve many problems in Selangor, such as providing clean water supply and proper waste collection, and had not fulfilled many of its 2008 election promises, he said.

He also said that one of the unfulfilled promises of the current Selangor government was the allowance for single mothers.

"The opposition (government) in Selangor had made all kinds of promises for Tamil schools but there has been 'illai'," he said in using the Tamil word for none or nothing that had been forthcoming.

Najib said he could list the Tamil schools that the BN had helped and added that besides Tamil schools the federal government had assisted non-governmental organisations, such as the Sri Murugan Centre (SMC), to enhance the level of education of the Indian community.

Najib: More can be done for Indian community with continued ‘nambikei’

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak gave his assurance on Sunday that more could be done for the Indian community with unity and continued 'nambikei' between the Government and the community.

"With this unity and the continued 'nambikei' between us, I can assure you that we can do much more and reach out to every deserving Indian family, thereby ensuring that the progress of our nation is shared by all Malaysians alike," he said in his message posted on his www.1Malaysia.com.my blog in conjunction with the Ponggal celebration beginning Monday.

He said the arrival of the auspicious month of 'Thai' in the Indian calendar marked the celebration of 'Ponggal', a harvest festival that symbolised a new beginning.

"As our friends celebrate the bountiful harvest by their tradition of boiling milk and rice, we are reminded of the rapid growth of our country's transformation that has brought much success and continued development for the benefit of all Malaysians," he said.

Najib said Malaysia was a country full of opportunities and by strengthening unity as well as working hard together, all Malaysians would share the country's bounty, as the nation progressed towards a developed and high-income nation status by 2020.

Najib also wished all Malaysian Indians “Ponggal Vaalthukkal" (Ponggal greetings).

"Let us all come together in the spirit of 1Malaysia to join our friends and celebrate this festival with renewed hope that this festival of new beginnings will bring Malaysia more progress and success," he said. - Bernama

(Source: The Star Online  Read PM's message for Ponggal 2013 here.