MALAYSIANS URGED TO MOVE FORWARD AT A FASTER PACE

LONDON, Sept 10 (Bernama) -- After 54 years of independence and reaping the
benefits of racial harmony, political stability and rapid economic growth,
Malaysians on Friday were urged to move forward at a faster pace to make the
country more competitive globally.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said if Malaysian could
leverage on their past successes, overcome all present challenges and thrive in
the new global world, they would build a better future for the nation.

Muhyiddin said what needed to be done was to get every Malaysian in the
country or abroad "on board the national journey to a better future where every
Malaysian has a important role to play."

"Whether you are Malaysian students studying abroad or Malaysian citizens
working abroad, everyone can contribute to the transformation that is
progressing in our country at the moment.

"We need your ideas, your creativity and your talents to move the country
forward. At the same time, we need to continue with our efforts to strengthen
national unity," he said in a speech prior to a dialogue with the Malaysian
community, including students, here.


The dialogue was held after a forum on "54 Years of Independence: Building A
Nation, Sharing A Destiny" moderated by the Malaysian High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom, Zakaria Sulong.

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia's Institute of Ethnic Studies director
Professor Ulung Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin and Institute of Strategic and
International Studies Malaysia chief executive Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin
were the panellists at the forum.
Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, arrived here for a four-day
working visit to the United Kingdom on Thursday, accompanied by his wife
Noorainee Abdul Rahman.

The deputy prime minister said besides moving faster, national unity was the
most important recipe for Malaysia's success in the past 54 years, a factor
which he said would "always be crucial to the success of the nation in the
future."

"In the spirit of 1Malaysia, we have to prove that we are capable of making
national unity not only a work in progress, but also a work that is progressing
rapidly to reach the final destination where all Malaysians regard Malaysia as
their home and share the same destiny."
As a multiracial country, he said, Malaysia's success story as a nation
depended on three important pillars -- unity, political and economic prosperity.

"Of course no one can say that we have achieved full-fledged national unity
because national unity has been and will always be a work in progress. It is an
aspiration that keeps us moving in the right direction to strengthen the bond
nationhood.

"But at the same time, no one can deny that we are now enjoying the fruits
of being united. Despite debates on racial and religious issues in our country,
which sometimes seem to be quite divisive, Malaysians of all races live
peacefully alongside each other," he said.

Muhyiddin said a majority of Malaysians appreciated the value of peace and
therefore rejected any attempt to divide and destabilise the society.
"We know that without national unity, there will be no political stability
and therefore it will be impossible for the government to focus on efforts to
develop the country, manage the economy and serve the people.

"Our experiences over the past decades show that even the ability to deliver
economic prosperity depends on how successful we are in maintaining peace and
stability," he added.