DON'T HARBOUR ANY SUSPICION TOWARDS 1MALAYSIA, SAYS PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 15 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has called on all quarters not to harbour any suspicion or be unduly worried over the 1Malaysia concept as it does not deviate from what was agreed upon by the nation's forefathers.

The United Malays National Organisation (Umno) president told delegates who
gathered for the party's general assembly here that 1Malaysia was a celebration
of Malaysia's plurality and diversity from which the country drew its strength.

"It is for this reason that the government introduced the idea of 1Malaysia.
Indeed, 1Malaysia is not a new concept or formula.

"Instead, the final objective of 1Malaysia is national unity, which has also
been the main vision of previous Umno leaders, and translated into the various
manifestation of strategic work plans over the past five decades," Najib said
when opening the Umno General Assembly at Putra World Trade Centre, here
Thursday.

The prime minister said that from the day patriots fought for the nation's
independence until today, the effort to forge national unity had been a priority
and would continue to be so.

Najib said that everyone was aware that without unity, it would be
impossible to realise the objectives and visions the nation had set out to
achieve.

He said the 1Malaysia concept was based upon several pillar principles,
among them the departure from unity based on tolerance to one that was based on
acceptance, social justice and shared values, taking into consideration the
nation's historical reality and guided by the supremacy of the constitution and
the Rukunegara (national principles).

"I would like to stress that the 1Malaysia concept does not in any way
digress from the spirit of the Federal Constitution as the law of the country,
either written or unwritten.

"In fact, we will continue to uphold core provisions such as Article 3,
Article 4, Article 152, Article 153 as well as Part II and III of the Federal
Constitution," he said.
-- BERNAMA