‘Govt will keep promises’
> Better to focus on people’s welfare than waste time responding to baseless allegations, says Najib
KUALA LUMPUR: Nothing is more special as a Merdeka Day gift to the people than a government capable of delivering its promises, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He said his administration does not wish to waste time staving off baseless allegations but would rather remain committed to efforts to spur economic growth.
“The story of Malaysia’s independence continues to be infused with all kinds of successes and achievements that are respected by friends and foes alike,” he said in his National Day message.
Malaysia, he said, was now widely referred to as a progressive nation developing fast based on a clear stand on issues such as rejection of extremist ideologies, especially in combating the Islamic State threat.
“King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud (of Saudi Arabia) chose Malaysia to locate the King Salman Centre for International Peace,” he said.
Najib also recalled some of the country’s latest achievements, including an impressive gross domestic product growth of 5.8% for the second quarter of this year, one of the highest in the world, Bernama reported.
He said Forbes magazine placed Malaysia at the forefront of all Asian countries for foreign investments while international rating agency Fitch Ratings also maintained Malaysia’s credit rating at “A-”.
Referring to the position of Bank Negara Malaysia’s international reserves, Najib said it had now increased to RM431 billion.
“How is it possible that some quarters are accusing Malaysia of being a failed state when, in the 90s, when the reserves were much lower, there was no talk of the country having failed?”
Najib said his administration believed in service to the people which, he added, must go beyond politics and be in the people’s interests.
Over the past eight years, his administration had never lagged but remained committed to implementing various policies and initiatives to prosper the nation and people, he added.
He said the government, in keeping with the philosophy of “1Malaysia: People First, Performance Now”, would continue to give priority to infrastructure projects such as the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), a world-class facility that benefits about 500,000 commuters daily.
The MRT project could help reduce the cost of living by providing a convenient and cheaper system of transportation while reducing traffic congestion, easing stress among the people, helping the environment by reducing carbon emissions and intensifying economic activities along its route. Likewise, the proposed East Coast Rail Link, the Pan-Borneo Highway and the High Speed Rail will bring similar benefits, he said.
Najib also said initiatives and aid for the underprivileged would continue to be provided and intensified. These include the 1Malaysia People’s Aid, 1Malaysia Housing Programme for Civil Servants, 1Malaysia People’s Housing Projects, 1Malaysia Clinics, 1Malaysia Student Discount Card, and aid for farmers, smallholders, fishermen and Felda settlers.