IPOH: The phrase “work with me” may be cliched but Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir used it yesterday to send home the message that everyone needed to work together for progress.
He said everyone should work with him to ensure that the state regained its past glory when it was the richest in the country.
“Zambry alone cannot do it. Mah (the only MCA assemblyman and state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon) alone cannot do it.
“Only when all communities come together and cooperate with each other can we push Perak to new frontiers,” he said in his speech at a Chinese New Year luncheon organised by the Perak Chinese Assembly Hall here yesterday.
Also present were Dr Mah, Gerakan deputy president Datuk Chang Ko Youn, state secretary Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Hashim, state police chief Datuk Shukri Dahalan and Chinese assembly hall chairman Tan Sri Chong Chin Shoong.
Zambry said he understood the many frustrations of the people from different walks of life but gave the assurance that the state government was doing its best to help everyone.
Stressing that economic development hinged on peace and prosperity, Zambry said everyone, whether they were in or out of the government, needed to focus and pool their efforts to ensure that problems faced by the various communities could be tackled.
In Kuala Lumpur, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the Year of the Rabbit would see the ministry working harder to create a healthier nation by making healthy living an important part of every Malaysian’s agenda.
He said wished to see a healthier Malaysia with reduced obesity.
“This year, I will be moving firmly in this matter. The cabinet has agreed to have a national cabinet committee on non-communicable diseases ,” he said at the MCA open house at Wisma MCA here on Thursday.
He said the committee would be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.
Liow added that a healthy body and mind would help contribute to the nation’s development. The campaign, he said, would be endorsed soon with states following suit.
“All ketua kampung will then be able to discuss health issues in their areas at meetings.”
He said this would be a good start where a proactive team could be formed in villages to promote healthy living.
“This will be more effective than waiting for the national level campaigns to reach the grassroots.”
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said Chinese New Year celebrations had become an indirect product to attract tourists to the country.
She said she wanted Malaysia to be a premier tourism destination with repeat visits by tourists.
Speaking at the MCA open house, she said the Tourism Ministry recorded an encouraging annual increase in foreign tourists.
“The numbers keep getting bigger especially because of tourists from China.”
Dr Ng said her target this year was to reach RM61 billion in revenue involving 25 million tourists.
Source : NST Online
