Khairy : Youths' Future Lies With BN

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Voters, especially the younger generation, should continue to give their mandate to the Barisan Nasional (BN) to ensure that their future and well-being are looked after.

BN Youth deputy chairman Khairy Jamaluddin said only the BN could fulfil the promises made while the opposition parties would not be able to make good their promises.

He said the opposition's plan to turn the country into a welfare state would raise the deficit in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 12 per cent and burden the people as it would increase the country's debts.

"I hope the youths will look at what each party has to offer. It must make realistic promises. If you look at PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat), it makes only empty promises," Khairy, who is also Umno Youth deputy chief, told reporters after launching the Lembah Pantai BN election machinery here tonight.

He was commenting on the perceived change of mood among the younger generation following the street demonstrations.

Asked on the feelings of the Indian community towards BN, Khairy said he was confident that it would continue to support BN after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had given his assurance that the government would give serious attention to their problems and requests.

"In BN, we have no denial syndrome. Actually, the Indian community still needs our assistance and support," he said.

On the possibility of PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's daughter, Nurul Izzah challenging Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil in Lembah Pantai, Khairy said it would not pose a problem to Shahrizat as she was a credible leader.

Present at the launching were BN Federal Territory Youth chief Datuk Norza Zakaria and Lembah Pantai Youth chief Norazmi Mohamadan.