Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today launched Jentera Jalinan Rakyat Plus (JR Plus), which will function as a platform together with the Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) election machineries in facing the 14th general election (GE14).

Najib, who was accompanied by his wife Rosmah Mansor, arrived at the Putra World Trade Centre in Kuala Lumpur, the venue for the launch, at 3.45pm.

Also present were Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, the top leadership of Umno and its wings and leaders of BN component parties.

On Aug 7, 2009, the BN had launched Jalinan Rakyat to replace the Konsep Ketua 10 (K10) initiative which was employed by Wanita Umno as a strategic way to get close to the people.

JR Plus will harness the election machineries of Wanita Umno, Umno Youth and Puteri Umno as well as those of the BN components and their wings.

The Umno president, in his speech, also praised Wanita Umno, which will be driving JR Plus, and said the women's wing had always taken the initiative and worked harder than ever, together with Umno Youth and Puteri Umno, to ensure the well-being of the people.

Earlier, Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil (photo), in her speech, said the creation of JR Plus was a transformation in Umno and BN, under the leadership of Najib, and it was more meaningful to the party as it would celebrate its 71st anniversary next month.

"Seventy years ago the leading heroine of Wanita Umno, the late Ibu Zain, climbed onto a lorry carrying Umno flags and maps around Johor Baru, inviting women to come out to give their support to Umno.

"Today, the women fighters are standing here, upholding the same spirit and we invite the coalition of Umno and BN machineries at all levels to come together as a powerful team to face the GE14," she said.

Shahrizat said Jalinan Rakyat, since its inception in 2009 and with more than 250,000 registered members to date, was like the largest political military unit in the country.

She said the strength would be doubled by JR Plus and it could become the opposition’s most feared machinery.

"With JR Plus we will continue working on the delivery of information, current issues and government policies to the people. It will also serve as the eyes and ears of the people to voice out what they want, to the authorities and the government," she said.

- Bernama