ID :
55763
Thu, 04/16/2009 - 08:19
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/55763
The shortlink copeid
NAJIB ASKS M'SIANS TO DISCARD "ETHNIC SILO" MENTALITY
KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 (Bernama) -- Malaysians should discard their 'ethnic silo' mentality, said Najib Razak.
The Prime Minister said Malaysians must "stand together, think and act as
one people under the '1Malaysia concept'."
"Lets break away from operating in the ethnic prism as we have done over so
many years. This is also the meaning of the '1Malaysia' concept.
"We must respect each other, go beyond tolerance and build trust among each
other and build trust between various ethnic groups," he told a press conference
here Wednedsday.
He said the ruling National Front (BN) component parties for example, should
not necessarily be focusing their services in locations based on their own
ethnic groups.
Najib also cited the example of him releasing 13 Internal Security Act (ISA)
detainees on being sworn in as Malaysia's sixth prime minister on April 3.
"The MIC should have been thankful to the government for freeing the 13 and
not only focus on the two Hindraf members released.
"If we freed two Hindraf members, don't forget there were 11 others. Don't
think about Hindraf alone," he said.
The Prime Minister also said that he had explained the 1Malaysia concept to
the members of the new Cabinet at its first meeting in Putrajaya this morning
and reminded them "don't be just concerned about your own community " but strive
to fulfill the high expectations of all Malaysians.
"I stressed on four things, namely integrity, ability, loyalty and
commitment. The Cabinet must also be people-oriented in order to gain the trust
of the people," he said.
Besides this, he said, ministers should also be agents of change and bring
about reforms towards meeting the needs of the entire spectrum of society.
"We cannot be thinking the government knows everything. The doors to
dialogue must be open to all so that decisions made by the government truly
reflect the wishes of the people," he said.
Najib also reminded the ministers not to give the people the perception that
the government only favoured certain groups or corporate entities although it
was of utmost importance to carry out polices that were private-sector friendly.
"But the bottom line is that any decision taken must be based on the overall
interests of the people," he said.
He said under the '1Malaysia' concept, if it concerned poverty eradication,
it should encompass all races irrespective of whether they were from urban or
rural areas, estates, new villages or aboriginal settlements.
"It ('1Malaysia') does not mean the policy to help the bumiputeras is
sidelined, in fact it will give implementation of the policy greater impetus so
as to ensure that eligible bumiputeras get their due consideration," he said.
Besides this, he said, the '1Malaysia' concept should not be misinterpreted
by certain quarters for example the opposition and equate it to the Malaysian
Malaysia concept (championed by an opposition party).
-- BERNAMA
The Prime Minister said Malaysians must "stand together, think and act as
one people under the '1Malaysia concept'."
"Lets break away from operating in the ethnic prism as we have done over so
many years. This is also the meaning of the '1Malaysia' concept.
"We must respect each other, go beyond tolerance and build trust among each
other and build trust between various ethnic groups," he told a press conference
here Wednedsday.
He said the ruling National Front (BN) component parties for example, should
not necessarily be focusing their services in locations based on their own
ethnic groups.
Najib also cited the example of him releasing 13 Internal Security Act (ISA)
detainees on being sworn in as Malaysia's sixth prime minister on April 3.
"The MIC should have been thankful to the government for freeing the 13 and
not only focus on the two Hindraf members released.
"If we freed two Hindraf members, don't forget there were 11 others. Don't
think about Hindraf alone," he said.
The Prime Minister also said that he had explained the 1Malaysia concept to
the members of the new Cabinet at its first meeting in Putrajaya this morning
and reminded them "don't be just concerned about your own community " but strive
to fulfill the high expectations of all Malaysians.
"I stressed on four things, namely integrity, ability, loyalty and
commitment. The Cabinet must also be people-oriented in order to gain the trust
of the people," he said.
Besides this, he said, ministers should also be agents of change and bring
about reforms towards meeting the needs of the entire spectrum of society.
"We cannot be thinking the government knows everything. The doors to
dialogue must be open to all so that decisions made by the government truly
reflect the wishes of the people," he said.
Najib also reminded the ministers not to give the people the perception that
the government only favoured certain groups or corporate entities although it
was of utmost importance to carry out polices that were private-sector friendly.
"But the bottom line is that any decision taken must be based on the overall
interests of the people," he said.
He said under the '1Malaysia' concept, if it concerned poverty eradication,
it should encompass all races irrespective of whether they were from urban or
rural areas, estates, new villages or aboriginal settlements.
"It ('1Malaysia') does not mean the policy to help the bumiputeras is
sidelined, in fact it will give implementation of the policy greater impetus so
as to ensure that eligible bumiputeras get their due consideration," he said.
Besides this, he said, the '1Malaysia' concept should not be misinterpreted
by certain quarters for example the opposition and equate it to the Malaysian
Malaysia concept (championed by an opposition party).
-- BERNAMA
