PENANG, March 6 (Bernama) -- Barisan Nasional (BN) has survived this long because the coalition has been fair and worked for the interest of all races, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

He said BN held fast to the principle of consensus-building as proven in the 1990 general election when Gerakan won only seven state seats while MCA and MIC did not win any, whereas Umno won 12 seats.

"Umno wanted to take over the chief minister's (CM) post (in Penang) but I said 'No'... because, going by our previous consensus in Penang, and as the majority (on the island) were Chinese, it was only logical that the CM came from the Chinese community.

"Based on the BN's consensus principle, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was chosen to be the CM," he said at a meet-the-people function in Padang Tembak here Wednesday.

Also present were Gerakan adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting and acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

The prime minister said only the BN had a true alliance of the people of Malaysia.

He denied allegations that Umno was greedy and wanted to dominate the other parties in the BN coalition.

Abdullah said that BN was always prepared to discuss any issue and seek solutions to any problems that might rise.

"We do not say one thing and do another... we are not chameleons," he said.

He said the BN placed a lot of importance on unity as its strength depended on it.

The prime minister also chided Penangites for demanding that the new chief minister to replace Dr Koh, be someone from the island itself.

But, when DAP members, for example Lim Guan Eng left his home state to come and contest here, there are people who are willing to support him.

"This should not be the case," he added.