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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Sabah, Sarawak contoh perpaduan 1Malaysia: PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Razak berkata semangat perpaduan dan keharmonian di Sabah dan Sarawak adalah salah satu contoh terbaik ke arah mewujudkan perpaduan 1Malaysia.

Perdana Menteri berkata, terdapat banyak contoh yang bersemangat untuk menunjukkan bagaimana rakyat Malaysia yang berbilang bangsa, agama dan keturunan boleh menerima perkara yang menyatukan, dan bukannya berpecah belah dan terpisah.

"Kisah Sabah dan Sarawak ialah kisah 1Malaysia, dan ia telah memberi saya maklumat dan inspirasi kepada komitmen saya terhadap konsep ini.

"Ia adalah bukti kepada hakikat bahawa perbezaan itu telah menyatukan negara ini," kata Najib dalam kenyataan peribadinya sempena Hari Malaysia hari ini, sempena memperingati Sabah dan Sarawak bersatu dengan Semenanjung Malaysia pada 1963 bagi membentuk apa yang kini dikenali sebagai Malaysia moden.

Sambil merujuk kepada perayaan Hari Gawai di rumah panjang di Sarawak, Perdana Menteri berkata beliau dapat merumuskan bahawa rakyat Sarawak telah pun menerima pakai nilai-nilai 1Malaysia "lama sebelum saya menjelaskan tentang pelbagai unsur di dalamnya".

Katanya, contoh itu telah merangsang komitmennya dan beliau percaya boleh meninggalkan impak yang mendalam kepada pembangunan Malaysia.

"Rakyat Malaysia daripada mana-mana jua bangsa dan fahaman hanya perlu melihat Sabah dan Sarawak untuk memahami perpaduan yang amat sukar dipercayai begitu kukuh dan harmoni yang boleh didapati dalam menerima dan menghormati kelainan rakyat kita," kata Najib.

Mengenai Sabah pula, beliau berkata negeri itu telah menunjukkan semangat keusahawanan yang membawa kepada pertumbuhan sektor ekopelancongan yang juga penyumbang penting kepada ekonomi negara.

Bagaimanapun, Perdana Menteri berkata beliau memperluaskan bantuan kewangan kerajaan Pusat kepada Sabah dan Sarawak untuk projek prasarana serta menambahbaik peluang pendidikan di luar bandar.

Beliau berkata, adalah penting bagi kerajaan memberi peluang yang sama kepada semua dan meningkatkan kehidupan semua rakyat Malaysia, tanpa mengira bangsa, agama atau "ceruk rantau Malaysia yang mereka pilih untuk menjadi tempat kediaman mereka".

"Pada akhirnya nanti, sama ada kita tinggal di rumah panjang di pedalaman atau di bangunan tinggi di Kuala Lumpur, kita semua adalah sebahagian daripada 1Malaysia yang kita cintai," katanya.

Dalam blog www.1malaysia.com.my, Najib juga menulis mengenai ingatannya semasa berusia 10 tahun ketika ayahanda beliau Tun Abdul Razak menjadi saksi peristiwa bersejarah kemerdekaan Sabah pada 1963.

"Saya ingat bagaimana bangganya beliau saat peristiwa penting itu berlangsung. Sabah dan Sarawak memenuhi satu sudut yang istimewa di hati saya kerana peristiwa bersejarah itu," katanya.

"Rumah-rumah panjang kekal menjadi tulang belakang kehidupan di dua negeri ini kerana ia ialah simbol kepada keperluan kita sebagai rakyat Malaysia untuk mempelajari bagaimana untuk hidup di bawah satu bumbung dan untuk membina tempat tinggal negara kita secara bersama-sama.

"Apabila matahari terbit di langit Malaysia, ia menyinari Sabah dan Sarawak terlebih dahulu. Masa hadapan kita sebagai sebuah negara bergantung keppada keupayaan kita untuk bekerja dan hidup bersama-sama," kata Perdana Menteri. - Bernama

Monday, September 14, 2009

Najib: BN built on people power


Najib (right) sharing thoughts with Musa. - Bernama pic

TAWAU, Sept 13 — In Malaysia’s parliamentary democratic system, it is the power of the people that will determine Barisan Nasional’s (BN) continuity in government, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

So, he said, to ensure that BN continued to receive the mandate to rule this country, it must be fair to all citizens regardless of race and religion. “This is because if we can protect the rights of all races and be fair to all, then the people will be with us and this is also the BN government’s principle.

“We will consider the interest of all groups so that no group feels it is being marginalised or hurt, instead, each group, each community is taken care of as best possible through the BN government’s policies.” Najib said this before about 15,000 people from various ethnic groups at a breaking of fast and handing-over of charity contributions to orphans and the poor here.

Also present were Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, other BN component party leaders and former Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Sakaran Dandai.

Najib said the principle of fairness outlined in 1Malaysia was also in line with Islam which taught its followers to be fair to all communities and religions. He said the 1Malaysia concept mooted by him was also in line with what Prophet Muhammad practised when he established the government of Medina with Islam as the pillar of the administration. “At the same time, the Prophet was fair to all the communities in Medina, he protected the minorities and gave religious freedom to the non-Muslims.

“If we look at the 1Malaysia concept, the essence is fairness which is based on the principles of mutual respect and accepting diversity as our strength and not as a problem. “If we accept diversity as our strength, then our country will become even more successful and dynamic in future.”

Najib, who is also Umno president and BN chairman, also reminded BN component party leaders and members to be close to the people and not just being popular among party leaders. He said there was no point in only being popular, even if one was the party president, but the party lost, and in this regard, the BN government under his leadership would get close to the people.

Najib said he started going to the ground to be close to the people when he took over the helm of government and wanted the other BN leaders to do the same. “I’ve gone to several places to meet the people. As leaders, if we go visiting without protocol and without the red-carpet welcome, the bunga manggar or any special reception, but we sit down with the people over drinks and hear their problems, the people will remain with us.”

On Sabah which he had all this while regarded as BN’s “fixed deposit”, Najib said he wanted Sabah to continue strengthening itself to really be BN’s stronghold. Najib also said that the frequent power supply disruption in Tawau would be solved soon with the construction of a coal-powered plant in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu, as an alternative measure, besides buying more power generators.

The prime minister was also scheduled to meet with Chinese community leaders here before returning to Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama