Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin In Australia

PERTH, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin

said it was important for all Malaysians, including Malaysian students overseas,

to understand the concept and the principles of 1Malaysia.



"It is not difficult to understand; it is an approach the Prime Minister

feels important to remind Malaysians that we are all one," he said at a dinner

and dialogue with Malaysians, including students, here last night.



Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister, is in Perth since Wednesday

night for a five-day working visit.



The 1Malaysia concept, he said, was not the Malaysian Malaysia concept

espoused by the Democraty Action Party, DAP, an opposition in parliament.



"The 1Malaysia concept emphasises the issues of national unity and

continuing development based on closer collaboration between all races and

(their) contribution to the nation to achieve national aspirations," he said.



Apart from 1Malaysia, Muhyiddin also spoke on a wide range of domestic

issues and policies including the current economic situation, liberalisation

measures, education and the development of sports in schools.



To a question, Muhyiddin said that the government would not filter or censor

the Internet.



He was also asked by a student's representative about the lack of

opportunities to obtain government scholarships.



Muhyiddin said that not everyone could be guaranteed of getting the

scholarships which were given out on a case-to-case basis.



He also said that the country was embarking on a new economic model to raise

the country's standing from a middle income to high income nation because for

many years, the incomes of the people have not grown.



Among the reasons for this was the existence of a large numb

er of low-paid foreign workers, including an estimated one million of them who were
working

illegally, he said.



This had, in some ways, affected the growth in per capita income, he added.

-- BERNAMA