1MALAYSIA CONCEPT NOW ACCEPTED BY THE MASSES - PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 16 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak Tuesday said the 1Malaysia concept advocated by him has become a movement
for the masses at the grassroots and not just a government slogan.

He was also thankful and happy with the support from the people during his
walkabout to Petaling Street (Chinatown of Kuala Lumpur), Kg Kerinchi and
Brickfields as part of his efforts to go to the ground and meet the people.


"I was overwhelmed by the support for the 1Malaysia wishes from the people
and the initiative of the people to celebrate and identify the 1Malaysia symbol
as a symbolic logo during a wedding which involved four couples in Kapar,
comprising two Malay couples, a Chinese and Indian couple, which I personally
attended.

"The 1Malaysia symbol has become so popular that corporate bodies and
volunteer groups have adopted the 1Malaysia logo as part of their corporate
design for their uniforms or apparel," he told the House of Representatives when
answering a question by Member of Parliament (MP), Alexander Nantha Linggi here
Tuesday.

The Kapit MP had asked the Prime Minister, how far has the 1Malaysia concept
succeeded in uniting the people of Malaysia, which comprises various races and
religions.

Najib when answering an additional question by the same MP said the
success
and popularity of the 1Malaysia concept had inspired some to come out with their
own concept "Middle Malaysian".

"When the popularity of 1Malaysia concept started growing, suddenly there
seems to be a new effort under the name of "Middle Malaysia", but from the
observation of many, "Middle Malaysia" seems like a re-branding of the
"Malaysian Malaysia" concept which was rejected, especially by the pribumis,
since it was not in line with the constitution or history of the country," he
said.

Najib also said that to ensure the success of IMalaysia, it needs the
commitment of all because the alternative to the success of the concept will be
disunity and instability.

"For our children...that is not what we wish. The government is confident
and believe that the 1Malaysia concept and national formula can help build a
'bangsa' Malaysia and succeed in uniting all the races although they practice
different religions," he said.

He said the biggest obstacle for the success of 1Malaysia or unity was
failure to overcome differences of opinion, prejudice and being apprehensive.

"Therefore, the people of Malaysia must be sincere in their efforts to check
their opinion and prejudice. Failing to do so can result in conspiracy in the
relationship. We must no stick to our opinion and be prejudice without knowing
the truth of the matter.

"Lets all move away from the definition of diversity among us and look for
a mutual relationship. The old wall of self definition must be torn down and new
bridges build to unify the people," he said.

Najib said the 1Malaysia concept "People First, Performance Now" was the
fundamental philosophy that lays the foundation for National unity.

The success of the concept was also the country's objective ever since
gaining independence more than 50 years ago and has remained the philosophy in
the administration of all previous prime ministers, he said.

"The government of today is continuing the struggle to ensure a more
effective national unity process with the premier objective of continued success
in unifying the people, not just a seasonal initiative.


"Achieving independence was just the beginning and not the final
episode...national unity needs a prolonged effort," he said.

Najib said 1Malaysia was an approach not isolated from the hitherto policies
of the National Front (Barisan Nasional - BN) government but complementary to
existing approaches to further strengthen unity to ensure stability towards
achieving greater progress and development for the people and country.

National Front or Barisan Nasional is a major political coalition in
Malaysia. Formed in 1973 as the successor to the Alliance, it has been
Malaysia's ruling political party since independence.

"1Malaysia is a formula which serves as a prerequisite to ensure
realisation
of the country's aspiration to achieve developed nation status by 2020 if it is
assimilated in the people and practiced by society.

"If 'Bangsa Malaysia' (the Malaysian race) outlined in Vision 2020 is the
ultimate objective of this journey, then 1Malaysia is the guide pointing the way
towards that objective," he said.

Najib said the unity portrayed under the 1Malaysia concept differed greatly
from the concept of assimilation practiced in other countries where ethnic
identities have made way for a common national identity.

He said 1Malaysia also differed greatly from the 'Malaysian Malaysia'
concept of the opposition because 1Malaysia did not deviate from the essence of
the Federal Constitution, expressed or implied.

The concept, he said, upheld all the fundamental provisions of the Federal
Constitution.

"As such, let not anyone feel apprehensive or suspicious and worried that
the concept would deviate from what had been agreed to by our forefathers. In
fact, 1Malaysia values and respects the ethnic identities of every community in
Malaysia and regards them as assets to be proud of," he said.

The prime minister said 1Malaysia emphasized "acceptance" and tolerance
among the people of various races where any one race accepted the uniqueness of
the others so that everyone was able to live together in a situation of mutual
respect as the people of one nation.

He said 1Malaysia was a continuation of the agenda of nation-building and,
for the country to progress, the people must achieve progress first, and this
had to begin with the attitude of inter-racial acceptance which brought about
strong unity.



When unity had been achieved, then the process of national development would
be smoother, he said.

Najib explained that the 1Malaysia concept was founded on and would be
implemented under two main aspects -- firstly, the assimilation of core elements
of unity and, secondly, the assimilation of the aspiration values.

"The core elements of unity are, firstly, the attitude of acceptance among
the races and the people, secondly, principles of nationhood based on the
Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara (National Ideology), and, thirdly,
social justice," he said.

He said these elements of unity were supported by noble values which should
be a part of the lifestyle of the people, including values such as mutual
respect, piety, moderation in conduct and speech, and prudence in decisions and
actions.

Najib said that in implementing its commitment to the people, the government
had coined the slogan "People First, Performance Now" as part of the 1Malaysia
concept.

"The theme means that in emphasizing the importance of unity among
Malaysians, the government will also give preference to issues regarded as
important by the people, like the setting up of the 1Malaysia Clinics," he said.

--BERNAMA