SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION NECESSARY FOR BALANCED SOCIETY, SAYS PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak said the government
needs to carry out social transformation in order to create a balanced, fair and
equitable society.

Describing it as the biggest challenge, Najib said social transformation could
be considered as a complement to the various transformation programmes
implemented by the government such as the Government Transformation Programme
(GTP), Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) and the Entry Point Project(EPP).


"If we want to look at a comprehensive programme it is through social
transformation. (It's) the biggest challenge, because it's not easy to change
social attitude and values," he said at the 10th anniversary celebration of the
formation of the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development at the
Putra World Trade Centre, here Monday.

Najib said that in creating a balanced society, the government was committed to
ensure that each individual in the country enjoyed the fruits of the country's
prosperity.

"We want to ensure that everyone could benefit from the country's
prosperity.

We must help those who are less fortunate, we must be sensitive to the plight of
those who live in hardship, suffering from stress, family problems and those who
are poor, so that the country's prosperity is not only enjoyed merely by the
rich," he said.

As such, he said, the government must focus on efforts to mobilise and promote
national economic growth to ensure that assistance could continue to be
channelled to the needy group.

"If our economy is sluggish, we will certainly be less able to help other
people. If our economy grows, we can distribute (the wealth) to those who are
less fortunate and need help. Then a balanced society will be created," he said.

Referring to the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry's
anniversary celebration, Najib said the ministry had gone through a dynamic and
significant process of evolution.

Despite having a large target group, the ministry had succeeded in
fulfilling the mandate and scope of work entrusted to it, he said.

"Just mention any social group, there is none that is excluded from the
ministry. From issues pertaining to children, women affairs, planning efforts to
improve the well-being of the disabled group, family problems right up to
improving infrastructure for and access to health facilities for the senior
citizens, providing adequate protection homes and their active involvement in
the country's social and economic activities.

"The issues championed by the ministry transcend various sectors and stages. In
short, the ministry encompasses everything 'from cradle to grave'," he said.

On the position of women in national development, Najib said the struggles for
the women's group in the country were no longer confined to issues on equal
rights for women nor the question of emancipation.

However, he said, in efforts to achieve the target of 30 per cent women's
participation in policy making, he hoped that the women who were picked for the
job succeeded based on merit and their own capability.

"We also want to ensure that the successful women are capable of achieving
sustainable success, not merely being excellent at the school or university
level but later ceased to be excellent after five years of working.

"If this happens, there will then be less women that we can choose to fill up
important posts in the private or public sectors," he said.

Najib said he had no doubt about the women's capability in this country, but
they should prove only in terms of sustainability.

"If they can work continuously, I believe they can achieve the target of women
making up 30 per cent of the policy makers in the near future," he added.
-- BERNAMA