NATION'S CONTINUED PROSPERITY MALAYSIAN PM NAJIB'S 57TH B'DAY WISH

MIRI (Malaysia), July 23 (Bernama) -- Najib Tun Razak said his prayers and hopes for his 57th birthday Friday were to see continued prosperity for the nation.

The Prime Minister said the government hoped it could continue with its
efforts to ensure peace and harmony for the people and country.

"My birthday is a personal thing for me but what is important is my hopes
and prayers that the country will continue to prosper," he said when launching
Petronas' "Touch of Hope" programme at the Senadin Petronas station here
Thursday.

When visiting Long Banga in Baram, an interior district in Sarawak in
conjunction with a "meet-the-people" session earlier today, he was surprised
with a birthday cake by members of the Orang Ulu community there.

Najib said the warm welcome accorded to him was a good sign that the local
communities in Sarawak placed very high hopes on the present government.

"I was deeply touched by the welcome given to me, especially in Long Banga
and Pekan Bekenu in Sibuti. In both these places, the people turned out in huge
numbers to greet me," he said.

Najib had also attended a "meet-the-people" session in Bekenu in
conjunction with his one-day working visit to the Miri division today.

-- BERNAMA