NEM FULFILS 1MALAYSIA CONCEPT, SAYS DR MAHATHIR

PETALING JAYA (Malaysia), April 3 (Bernama) -- Former Malaysian prime minister
Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Friday the New Economic Model (NEM) launched by Prime
Minister Najib Razak on Tuesday fulfilled the 1Malaysia concept as it
encompasses all the races.

The former prime minister said the introduction of the NEM showed that Najib
understood the needs of all races in the country, including the Malays.

"I think he understands the need to cater to all communities and not forgetting
his own community," he told reporters after launching the book and art
exhibition 'Painted-Axioms of Life Experiences" by the Vice-Chancellor of the
International University College of Nursing, Prof Dr Hashim Yaacob, at Subang
Jaya, near here.

Also present at the function was Dr Mahathir's wife, Dr Siti Hasmah
Mohamad Ali.

The NEM was implemented to boost the national economy so that Malaysia would
become a developed nation by the year 2020 and subsequently raise the income of
the whole population.

On the first anniversary of Najib's leadership as the Prime Minister, Dr
Mahathir said the one-year period was insufficient to gauge the leadership and
changes brought by Najib.

"One year is insufficient to make an assessment. One year is for the person to
learn his job," he said.

Dr Mahathir said the new policies and planning introduced by Najib could only be
evaluated once they had been successfully implemented and had achieved results.
-- BERNAMA