SERDANG: With the 14th general election on the lips of Malaysians, political leaders are not missing any opportunity to “hard sell” their party, and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is no exception.

However, most politicians will find it hard to outdo his performance today.

Addressing an assembly of government pensioners and those about to retire, the deputy prime minister exhorted them “not to bite the hand that feeds them”.

They should be thankful to the government, he told the 7,000 people present at the 1Pesara Malaysia 2017 event at the Malaysian Agro Exposition Park here.

“We are together here today and in the days to come to stress our gratitude to our organisation and the government of Malaysia which has protected us and will continue to protect us,” he said.

In mid-speech, Zahid called on the attendees to applaud the government accompanied by three shouts of “Hidup Malaysia” (Long Live Malaysia).

He then told those present that, as a show of appreciation, to give the government a “standing ovation”.

Zahid reminded the pensioners and those about to retire not to harbour feelings of dissatisfaction against the government, adding that this would only cause their hearts to “darken with endless hate”.

“We must embrace the reality that we should be thankful to Allah by way of gratitude to the one who has provided for our livelihood all this while, and that is the government of Malaysia,” he said.