KUALA LUMPUR, April 3 – The people’s living standard and quality of life keeps improving while the country continues to prosper economically and remains financially healthy in the four years of government helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Najib, since assuming the leadership on April 3, 2009, has effected the 1Malaysia concept in a commitment towards the country’s development in the interest of the people through a bold statement, ‘People First, Performance Now’.
Malaysia’s Vision 2020 target to become a high income developed nation could likely be achieved earlier, looking at the three-year Government Transformation Programme (GTP) which has already shown to impact headily on the country and people. Success is reflected from the growth in the gross national income (GNI) per capita from US$257 in 1957 to US$9,970 last year.
Based on the GTP annual report presented by Najib last month, the poverty rate continues to decline from more than 60 per cent during pre-independence to 1.7 per cent in 2012. The average monthly household income also rose from RM4,025 in 2009 to RM5,000 last year, enabling the purchasing power of Malaysians to rise almost two-fold that of the income per capita.
The national inflation rate was reportedly maintained at 1.2 per cent in December last year, which was among the lowest in the region. Najib further introduced compassionate initiatives to ease the burden of the lower income group. While tabling Budget 2012, he announced the 1Malaysia People’s Assistance (BR1M) of RM500 to households earning a monthly income of RM3,000 and below, and this had benefited more than six million people.
He extended the assistance this year to include single individuals aged 21 and above, whose monthly income was not more than RM2,000, making them eligible to receive RM250 each. While presenting the GTP annual report last month, Najib also announced that the BR1M would be continued as a yearly initiative.
Through the 1Malaysia Brand initiative, people had an alternative to purchase basic daily needs and services at 20 to 40 per cent lower than the market price. Najib further introduced the 1Malaysia People’s Market (KR1M), 1Malaysia People’s Clinic, 1Malaysia Textile Shop, 1Malaysia People’s Welfare Programme (Karisma) and 1Malaysia People’s Menu, and more 1Malaysia Housing Projects (PR1MA).
The intrusion by armed militants from southern Philippines into Lahad Datu, Sabah put Najib to the test, with regard to the country’s security and sovereignty. He did not budge, warning out loud to the terrorists that Sabah perpetually belonged to Malaysia, and stood his ground against the offer of a ceasefire.
In foresight against similar intimidations in future, he announced the establishment of the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZONE) covering 10 districts in Sabah to lend legal effect to the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM). Najib dismissed spiteful conjectures that the bloodshed that claimed the lives of security fronliners in the Ops Daulat offensive was an Umno drama, stressing that the sacrifices by those who were slain in the assault should not be belittled and they should be honoured and remembered as heroes in their defence of the country.
He announced at the 13th Civil Service Premier Gathering (MAPPA XIII) at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre last month that the salary and rank structures of Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Police would be synchronised with that of the civil service, effective Jan 1, 2013.
This was in appreciation of the security forces’ role in fighting and defending the country against its enemies. Meanwhile, the Community Transformation Programme, Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) and Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) were established as strategic steps to develop local products, particularly rural.
The first RTC based on the concept ‘one stop multi-services’ was built in Gopeng, Perak and subsequently in Kelantan, Melaka and Pahang, while the first UTC was launched in Melaka, and a mini UTC in Sentul. It is public knowledge that Parliament goes into automatic dissolution on April 30, and many are waiting for Najib to announce the dissolution to enable the 13th General Election to be held.
Najib, who will lead the Barisan Nasional (BN) for the first time, said he wanted to be given more time to ensure that the people would get to further enjoy the benefits from the policies and programmes implemented under the GTP. He also desired a bigger majority for the BN and to redeem the losses in the 12th General Election in 2008 when the BN, for the first time, lost its two- thirds majority in Parliament, and the states, Kelantan, Kedah, Penang and Selangor to the opposition.
Najib, who was chosen as Selangor BN election director, will motivate BN component parties to put their whole strength in reclaiming the state. The country will not see progress if the national economy was not stable, and in this regard, Najib introduced the Economic Transformation programme in late 2010.
Since the launch, the private investment growth has flourished three-fold, recording a rise of 22 per cent last year; this shows that the private sector plays a major role as the country’s economic driver. The national transformation agenda rose above its successes to strengthen Malaysia’s position at the international level.
According to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report 2013, Malaysia is the 12th most business-friendly country in the world, besides being the top in access to credit facilities. Malaysia is also the 14th most competitive country in the world, according to the Institute of Management Development in the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2012/2013.
Globe Shopper Index by Economist Intelligence Unit showed Kuala Lumpur to be the second best shopping city in the Asia Pacific. In the capital market, the Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index recorded the highest points at 1,688 on Dec 31, last year. The global recognitions accorded to Malaysia are a testimony of the successes of the GTP and ETP initiatives since they were launched, and it showed that the country is on the right track. Najib does not just make superficial policies that please the ear, he makes them happen.
BERNAMA
