KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been working hard to give the Chinese community what they want, chiefly economic opportunities and quality education.
Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau said it is clear that the Barisan Nasional government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak are doing more and more to solve the community’s problems and help meet their needs.
"The government and the prime minister are very clear on the expectations of the Chinese community.
“They also acknowledged that the Chinese are patriotic citizens of the country whose love for the country is unquestionable,” he said.
Lau was commenting on Najib’s speech at the Chinese Community Patriotic Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) here on Saturday.
Addressing an audience of more than 16,000, the prime minister said he is well aware of what the Chinese wants and reassured the community that they will never be left out by the government.
Lau also praised the prime minister for promising to build more Chinese vernacular schools.
He said it is only fair for the Chinese community to do their part by striving to be proficient in Bahasa Malaysia, as nothing unites the people more than speaking the same language.
Lau also lauded the prime minister’s call for moderation and to reject extremism, saying that it is important as Malaysia is a multi-racial and multi-cultural society with much diversity among its people.
At the same time, Lau urged the Chinese community not to leave things to chance and not harbour any unrealistic illusions that the Opposition can offer them something better.
"The myth that the Opposition can do it all more efficiently has always been a bankrupt ideology,” he said.
He told the people to keep their faith in the BN government with its proven track record in administering a fair government that provides economic opportunity and quality education to all.
"What better way to do that than to give the government the necessary support, so that it can continue to implement the development and progress needed for a top 20 nation in the world.
“The people should face the reality that we won’t get there under the Opposition,” he said.