Najib: Our cordial approach beneficial, unlike ex-PM’s

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak took a swipe at a former national leader for “harping on the past” and whose diplomacy over foreign relations was wanting.

“It is true that Malaysia had a former leader who had a confrontational foreign policy, who acted out of anger and seems unable to let go of old grievances,” said Najib.

“This Government, on the other hand, has been forging new bonds in the region and beyond and has been strengthening ties with old friends,” he said in his keynote address at the World Capital Markets Symposium here yesterday.

This approach, he said, would bring benefits to the rakyat, compared to “harping on past quarrels”.

Najib cited recent successful agreements between Malaysia and Singapore on the High Speed Rail (HSR), Rapid Transit System and Marina One development project as examples where a non-confrontational approach brought benefits to the country and its people.

While not specifically naming the former leader, it is believed Najib was referring to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Najib also said the “excess of crony capitalism of a former era” should remain in the past. Instead, he said, the current administration has renewed its focus on good governance with a strong economic oversight.

He said that the Government was committed to ensuring businesses and institutions operated with the highest standards of governance.