Barisan Nasional -- Best Choice of Malysian People: Mahathir

Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said Wednesday, the country's "struggle to bring prosperity to the people and country, to build a better tomorrow for all is not over yet."

"The masses still support and hold expectations of us. For them the Barisan Nasional party and government is still their best choice," Mahathir, who is also Chairman of the ruling Barisan National (National Front), said in a message issued here.

The message was released before the one-day Barisan Nasional convention slated for Saturday.

"We have successfully created an effective political formula for resolving ethnic problems which are now plaguing other parts of the world notably the west," Mahathir said.

He said the people had democratically given the ruling coalition the mandate to govern for the last 10 terms and the coalition in turn had been able to preserve political and economic independence besides creating a very high level of social justice according to Malaysia's own mould.

This was accomplished through unity and the "Malaysia Boleh" (" Malaysia can do it") spirit, he said, adding "the tasks ahead are bigger and more challenging. Trials and tribulations will come from within and outside. We must work hard to remain in power after the 11th general election in 2004."

Mahathir said Saturday's convention would serve as a crucial forum for all the 14 component parties of the Front to chart out strategies for perpetuating the coalition's resilience and success.

Mahathir said the concept of the Barisan Nasional, formerly known as the Alliance, was premised on a political formula well- received by multi-racial Malaysians.

"Consultation among the coalition partners has been the key instrument for the Alliance then and the Barisan Nasional now in pursuing political solutions to problems relating to race, religion and culture," he said.

The prime minister urged Malaysians to reject the western culture of violence now spreading to developing countries which advocated destabilising and toppling democratically-elected governments.

"Street demonstrations are not part of the Malaysian culture. They are in fact an abuse of democracy for achieving the objectives of specific groups," he said.






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