1MALAYSIA IS A WORK IN PROGRESS, SAYS PM NAJIB

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak said Friday the 1Malaysia concept is a work in progress which will achieve its objectives with the support and commitment from all segments of society.

He stressed that the 1Malaysia concept and the government transformation
programme (GTP) were ongoing processes.

The 1Malaysia concept introduced last year, he said, could not be realised
overnight.

"I wish to explain here that what the government has done is just the beginning
of what what we hope to achieve in the years ahead.

"I don't like the notion that when something did not work, people will say "oh
1Malaysia is not working." That is not right. I want to say that it (1Malaysia)
is a work in progress, and we need the full commitment from all Malaysians to
achieve its objectives," he said in his keynote address during the closing of
the “Living in a Multi-Ethnic Society” seminar organised by the 1Malaysia
Foundation here Friday.

The one-day seminar was also attended by Minister in the Prime Minister's
Department Dr Koh Tsu Koon and 1Malaysia Foundation chairman Dr Chandra
Muzaffar.

At the same time, Najib also called on Malaysians to subject themselves to the
"1Malaysia Test" if faced with any racial issues.

He said the test required them to first ask themselves what their stand would be
if a certain ethnic issue had an impact on a particular ethnic goup or religion.

They could also ask themselves questions like: Will this improve racial harmony
or cause hatred against my own race or will this bring about greater
understanding among the various races and improve national unity, or otherwise?

"I often feel that each group or individual and all institutions which are
influential in society, should subject themselves to this "1Malaysia Test" if
faced with any racial issue wherever they are," he said.

He said there was a great possibility a more conducive atmosphere for unity and
harmony in the country could be achieved if every one who had influence in
society realised how their words and actions impacted others, and towards this
end, they might want to do the "1Malaysia Test" first.

Touching on the role of politicians, Najib said irrespective of their
backgrounds, they should also champion national unity as outlined in the
1Malaysia concept.

"Let's not talk or act in a way that will cause national unity and respect for
each other to erode. Do not adopt an extreme attitude," he said, adding that
they (politicians) should also refrain from touching on or raise issues that
could hurt the feelings of others.

Speaking to reporters later, Najib said the 1Malaysia Milk Pogramme to be
lauched next month would help build a a new generation of Malaysians who were
more healthy and mentally agile as it aimed to form the habit of drinking milk
among school students.

"The objective of this programme is to create a stronger, healthier, mentally
fitter and dynamic younger Malaysians of tomorrow," he said.

Besides ensuring the children received adequate protein and calcium
nutrition, the programme would also help improve the income of livestock breeders in
the east Malaysian state of eSabah, which would the supplier of the milk for the
programme, he added.
-- BERNAMA