GE 13 : Accept Me As An Old Friend, Says Abdul Ghani

"Please accept me as your old friend. I've been with you for 18 years, take me not as a former menteri besar, but simply as an old friend, so that we can come together to form a stronger government."

That is the call made by Menteri Besar of Johor Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman on the people here Monday.

While admitting that it was not all perfect in his 18 years of service, Abdul Ghani said he believed and hoped that he had discharged all the responsibilities entrusted to him by the people of Johor to the best of his ability.

Contesting for the 'hot' Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in the May 5 polls, the menteri besar also called on the people to defend the state to enable Barisan Nasional (BN) to form a stronger government and continue implementing all its development plans.

"To continue the implementation (of the plans), I would like to call on the people from all walks of life in Johor to give our supports to the BN to form a new government."

Abdul Ghani said this at the people's gathering with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Pekan Nanas here today, which was also attended by Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

Also present were Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan, as well as BN candidates Datuk Wee Jack Seng (Tanjung Piai), Suhaimi Salleh (Kukup) and Wong You Fong (Pekan Nanas).