M`SIAN PM TO PERSONALLY MONITOR IMPLEMENTATION OF STIMULUS PACKAGES

KLANG (Malaysia), April 17 (Bernama)-- Najib Tun Razak said Friday he would
personnally monitor on a weekly basis every aspect of the economic stimulus
packages implementation and the state of the Malaysian economy.

"I will be swift to take necessary remedial action should the need arises,"
the prime minister said when opening the 63rd annual general meeting of
the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia (ACCCIM).

Najib said he understood that the business community still had some
concerns on the effectiveness of the economic revival plans.

He said ACCCIM President William Cheng had told him that the business
environment was still dictated by poor performance and uncertainties.

The prime minister also assured that the government would periodically
re-examine electricity tariffs and prices of natural gas as he was well aware on
the concerns of the private sector on energy cost and its implications on
industrial production.

The government also had to protect the interests of all the parties
involved, be
they energy users or providers, said Najib, who is also Finance Minister.

Najib said the present government had always implemented business-friendly
policies for the good of the nation.

"When businesses thrive, the government can collect more revenue in taxes
and the money will be used to provide services to the people.

"As such, I will hold true to the government policy of being pro-business.
This is my pledge as the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Malaysians from all walks
of life, but this brings me a question, if the government has always
demonstrated its pro-business policies, shouldn't the business community
return the favour?" he asked.

The prime minister said business and industrial players in Malaysia should
not rely on productivity alone to succeed in their ventures but must pair
productivity with creativity.

"Increased efforts in the same direction or approach will not necessarily
bring about desired results. Hence, it is important that creativity
accompanies productivity.

"In order to be creative, we must always be willing to think outside the box
of known realities and constraints.

"Once creativity becomes part of the Malaysian culture, the platform has
been laid for the country to develop innovation-based economy.

"Innovation will add further value to the transformation into a
knowledge-based economy that is well in place.

"For this to happen, innovation has to be part of the production pipeline,
manufacturing a steady stream of products and services that are
continuously enriched with innovation.

"This also means producing better products that are designed better," he
said.

Najib also urged Malaysian manufacturers to move away from the
"Made-in-Malaysia" label to develop a "Designed in Malaysia" brand.

He said added value in products must be amplified by high value like birds'
nests and ornamental fish industries.

"I'm sure there are many more opportunities out there in other industries
waiting to be explored and commercialised," he added.

-- BERNAMA