Najib and Zahid best combination for stability, prosperity: Nazri

BAGAN DATUK: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who holds fast to the principle of loyalty or 'wala' to the leader makes his pairing with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak the best combination for continued stability and prosperity of the nation, said Minister of Tourism and Culture Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz .
He said Ahmad Zahid, who was always loyal to the 'boss' proved to be the person best qualified to assist the prime minister in administering the country well.
"I have seen and I say that the right person who can help the prime minister (Najib) to govern the country well and at the same time be loyal is none other than Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. This has been proven for more than two years, nothing happened or anyone saying an earthquake (in politics) had taken place. Everything is peaceful.
"The Prime Minister always has the peace of mind to think of very good policies that can be implemented for the people and the country. If the number two is always bugging him how can he can do the job ... Like (former prime minister Tun) Dr. Mahathir Mohamad prior to this.
"When our prime minister goes out of the country (on working visits), our country remains peaceful because his deputy who is in the country takes care of things well ... There are some prime ministers who go abroad but are always thinking of what their deputies are doing (back home) but Najib just relaxes, he has no problems, "he said.
Mohamed Nazri said this at the ground breaking ceremony of Bagan Datuk's Digital Library at Dataran Aman Jaya here recently.
Apart from loyalty to the leader, Mohamed Nazri said Ahmad Zahid was a leader who was always loyal to his voters.
"This is a leader whom, if he is loyal to the boss, the people who voted (him) do not need to worry because if with his boss he is loyal, what more with the voters who give him support. Of course the deputy prime minister will also be loyal to the people.
"Therefore, in the interest and stability of our country to move forward, more (development) can be implemented for all of us, I hope that the people will (ensure) a win for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the general election, "he said.
Mohamad Nazri said the Najib-Ahmad Zahid combination since they were in UMNO Youth had witnessed the two leaders being so compatible (with each other).
Recalling their struggles in UMNO Youth, he said they were full of idealism and ventured into politics immediately after graduating from university.
"Najib was the leader then. He saw us as a young generation who could become leaders. We followed him wherever he went. Zahid was Najib's political secretary at that time
"We followed him and that's why if you see a lot of transformation in our homeland, it's the result of the struggle of our idealism that started off a team that had promised to remain loyal to each other and made us who we are today," he said.
He added that the team among others comprised hims a vice head, Ahmad Zahid (Information Chief), Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (Treasurer), Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh (Terengganu UMNO Youth chief), Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin, (youngest executive councillor appointed) and Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Padang Terap UMNO Youth Chief).
"If you are looking at the leadership in the Cabinet today it has members of the group when Najib was UMNO Youth chief.
​"I want to emphasise today that when Najib talks about loyalty, he was talking about the friends who were with him when he was UMNO Youth chief, when he was still young.
"We encountered a myriad of ordeals and obstacles. As you know, its politics, it is not easy to go up, easy to get discarded. We moved up together till this day, "he said.
Meanwhile, Mohamed Nazri also pledged loyalty to the deputy prime minister saying that "as long as he wants help from me, "I will lean on my beaks if my wings fail and will climb mountains to give my assistance"."
He also congratulated the people of Bagan Datuk as its landscape had changed from a sub-district to a district approved by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah.
"I think the voters in Bagan Datuk are blessed by Allah SWT because here was born a prince and a "diamond".
"In the past, people used to say no need to go to Bagan Datuk. Upon reaching the cross road (where Bagan Datuk is located) , turn left to Selangor. The Bagan Datuk then was likened to the wild west. I was pretty scared about coming here ... Indeed, (Bagan Datuk) was left behind and was only a sub-district to the bigger district of Hilir Perak District. Just a sub-district. Who wanted to come here?
"But today Alhamdulillah, the Deputy Prime Minister has been a Member of Parliament (for Bagan Datuk) for 23 years. We see in just 23 years Bagan Datuk morphing from a small town to a sub district and finally to a district, "he said. — Bernama