PM GETS INPUT FROM
Najib says govt needs their feedback to resolve issues
PUTRAJAYA
PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday met key industry players and business associations in a roundtable economic dialogue to gather feedback, input and ideas on the country’s economic issues.
Najib, who is also finance minister, said he wanted to listen and take on board their views in order for the government to resolve the issues.
“We met and discussed current issues related to government policies, not only for the shortterm, but also in the long-term, towards the National Transformation 2050, which had set a goal for Malaysia to become a top 20 country in the world by 2050,” he after the dialogue.
Najib said the focus should be on the high cost of living and inflation, which was the general complaint among the people.
Despite such complaints, Najib pointed out that a recent survey revealed that Kuala Lumpur was the cheapest city in Asean.
He also pointed out that the country’s economic fundamentals were good, with it achieving a gross domestic product growth (GDP) of 4.2 per cent last year.
“According to Bank Negara (Malaysia’s) 2016 Annual Report, released yesterday, we should be recording 4.3 per cent upwards, maybe just under five per cent this year.
“This is our expectation for this year, and 2018, (Malaysia’s GDP) will be performing better, barring any unforeseen developments.”
On that note, Najib reminded industry players to improve productivity and said household debts, which currently stood at 89 per cent of GDP, must be reduced.
He said the country’s productivity rate must be increased to four per cent, annually, from the current 2.3 per cent.
Najib also said he needed inputs Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak receiving a courtesy call from renowned Zimbabwean preacher and mufti, Ismail Musa Menk, at his office at the Perdana Putra Complex in Putrajaya yesterday. The motivational speaker, who is popularly known as Mufti Menk, has endeared himself to Muslims and non-Muslims alike. He is here for “The Straight Path Convention — The Divine Rights”, at the Matrade Exhibition and Convention Centre, today and tomorrow. to help small- and mediumsized enterprises become more competitive and develop Digital Malaysia.
Najib said he believed in the principles of human capital development; connectivity in a broad sense of infrastructure, Internet and cyberspace; and inclusiveness.
“I believe no Malaysian must be left behind. Those are the three principles I believe in and should be part and parcel of our policy as we move forward,” he said.
Najib said the iconic Pan Borneo Highway, High-Speed Rail, East-Coast Rail Link and Bandar Malaysia projects were some of the game changers in Malaysia.
“In a few years, I believe the (nation’s economic) landscape will be different when we see these iconic projects implemented,” he added. Bernama