MALAYSIAN PM WRITES ON LOYALTY AS A VALUE OF 1MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, April 22 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak says loyalty is important because it is a cornerstone of trust, but this
does not mean that one cannot criticise.

"... in the government service, for example, the government administration,
certainly one needs to be loyal to the leader.

"But one should also be loyal to the leader for as long as the leader is
also loyal, in the sense that the leader performs, the leader is committed to
his work, is dedicated," he said in his blog, www.1malaysia.com.my, when writing
on loyalty as one of the eight key values of 1Malaysia.

Najib said criticism should be made in the right manner, in the right place
and at the right time.

"I would certainly appreciate that, whether it's in a personal relationship
or in the context of my colleagues that there'll be a time and opportunity for
them to offer some constructive views, for example, even criticism, which I
think is necessary.

He said he thought that it would be a disservice in terms of personal
relationship or whether it's in the government, that there is no room for
constructive criticism or even dissent, provided it is done in a very correct
manner, and with good intentions.

"... I think gone are the days when loyalty should be misconstrued as blind
faith, or as having a carte blanche in terms of personal relationship, that you
can do whatever you like, and you get away with it. I think that's wrong," he
said.

He said loyalty should be coupled with ability.

"You cannot reward a person just because he or she is loyal, but you forget
the fact that loyalty without performance, without ability will not be adequate.
Loyalty is important, yes, but it has to be coupled with other considerations as
well."

Writing on the subject of acceptance as another key value of 1Malaysia,
Najib said there was quite a big difference between tolerance and acceptance.


"I think when you say you tolerate, you don't quite like it, but you accept
it because you have no choice. But if you talk in terms of acceptance, it
indicates a state of mind that you are embracing something positively," he said.

He said it was important for the people to migrate from the concept of mere
tolerance to acceptance.

"Acceptance in the sense that you are ready to accept things. If you're
willing to accept things, if you embrace things willingly, then I think your
capacity to look at things in a more positive manner is much better than mere
tolerance," he said.

The prime minister said he thought that was important because then "you
don't have any baggage and you're not weighed down by any negative pre-conceived
notions and you're willing to look at the best the person can offer".

"This is what we require for Malaysia. We have to get the best of the
Malays, the best of the Chinese, the best of the Indians, the best of the others
and mould them together so that collectively we'll be much bigger than the sum
of the individuals.


"I think we have to embark on policies that seem to be fair and implemented
in a way that reflects our commitment. For example, when we talk about helping
the poor, we must be helping the poor of all communities. And I think the poor
of all communities deserve to be helped.

"So our programmes, our financial allocations must reflect the need to
tackle the problems of the poor across all racial and ethnic lines," he said.

Najib said he thought that every Malaysian should be able to accomplish the
maximum in terms of his or her self-development.

"The system we have in place, the education system, the scholarships, the
financial assistance, the opportunities should reflect this, that there are no
limits. The limits are not set because of your ethnic background. The limits are
set because of your own personal ability," he said.

-- BERNAMA