Najib The Real Transformer

What we are seeing under Barisan Nasional chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak is a complete overhaul of its candidates to provide better representation to the new Malaysia. In line with the rakyat's aspirations and changing demographics, Najib has selected candidates who can best deliver on BN's comprehensive manifesto.
BN is therefore fielding fresh candidates in one third of parliamentary seats and in almost half of state assembly seats in GE13.
This sweeping change is unprecedented in Malaysian politics, and marks a bold move forward by Najib to implement change from within.
In contrast, Pakatan Rakyat's high-decibel demand for change is largely superficial and means little on the ground. Pakatan leaders are fielding a few new candidates, but merely as cannon fodder in BN stronghold seats where they stand no chance.
Instead, for safe seats Pakatan has preferred to stick to its aging leadership that still feels entitled to plum positions.
For instance, PAS' Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat has occupied that position of Kelantan Menteri Besar since 1990 – a staggering 22 years. Yet he shows no signs of retiring, and recently claimed that he would carry on "while [he] still breathed".
Voters can no longer ignore Nik Aziz's poor health, though. At a DAP ceramah in Johor last weekend, the 82-year old had to be carried away suffering from fatigue.
In the DAP too, the Lim dynasty is still running strong. 72-year old Lim Kit Siang was party secretary-general for 30 years, and his son Lim Guan Eng has now occupied that position for 9 years. Guan Eng probably thinks that it will be his for the next two decades at least.
Do these Pakatan leaders really stand for change? Or is it BN which better represents change in Malaysia – after all, Najib is the third Prime Minister from BN in the past decade.
Mahatma Gandhi once said: "Be the change you wish to see."
If Pakatan is really so keen on change, leaders like Nik Aziz and Kit Siang would have stepped down gracefully before GE13, making way for younger candidates to contest in Pakatan strongholds.
Young voters are looking for representatives who are more like them, more connected, and more accessible. Pakatan has cynically tapped into this emotion and tried to use it politically against the government, while paying lip service to change itself.
On the other hand, it is BN that has listened to the rakyat and understood that change is a legitimate demand from young voters. Najib has implemented this change from within, starting with reforms to make the economy more competitive and to modernise our laws.
GE13 provides the next stage – for Najib to refresh the candidates themselves, to provide more qualified, younger and energetic representatives that the rakyat can identify with and trust to deliver.
Najib's aim is to revolutionise the government without creating instability and chaos. What he is attempting to do is unprecedented in Asia, let alone in Malaysia.
If young voters really want change they should vote for the leader who is quietly presiding over the greatest change in our political history since independence. It's called transformation, and it's coming from BN.