KUALA LUMPUR, April 3- The following are among the reforms and achievements of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in his four-year administration as Malaysia’s sixth prime minister since his appointment on April 3, 2009:
1. PEOPLE’S WELLBEING/ 1MALAYSIA PRODUCTS
* Apr 5, 2009 – Introduced the 1Malaysia concept: People First, Performance Now.
* July 11, 2009 – On his 100th day as prime minister, Najib announced 11 people-friendly measures, among them the setting up of 1Malaysia Trust Fund.
* Jan 7, 2010 – Established the 1Malaysia Clinic for the low-income group to obtain treatment for only RM1.
* Jan 28, 2010 – Introduced the 1AZAM programme (End the Poverty) aimed at building capacity and creating employment opportunities through a combination of employment and entrepreneurship.
* Jan 31, 2010 – Started the 1Malaysia Maintenance Fund (TP1M) with an allocation of RM37.6 million.
* Feb 19, 2011 – Launched the Small Retail Shop Transformation (Tukar) Programme as an effort to modernise small retailers and assist them to be more competitive.
* Jun 22, 2011 – Set up 1Malaysia People’s Shop or KR1M (As at Feb 28, 2013, there are 87 KR1Ms and the government is targeting 90 more KR1Ms to be in operation this year)
* July 4, 2011 – Inspired the 1Malaysia People Housing Project (PR1MA) * July 7, 2011 – 1Malaysia People’s Menu was introduced with a RM2 ceiling price for breakfast and lunch at RM4. (There are 3,572 premises offering the menu)
* July 7, 2011 – Launched the My Rapid Transit (MRT) project, as the main mode of transport in Kuala Lumpur towards strengthening national public transport.
* Oct 7, 2011 – In tabling the 2012 Budget, the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) of RM500 would be given to each household with income of less than RM3,000 a month and below.
* Dec 19, 2011 – Launched the first national mobile and internet television 1Malaysia TV.
* Feb 18, 2012 – Set up the first Rural Transformation Centre (RTC) in Gopeng, Perak and several more were later open in Kelantan, Melaka and Pahang.
* June 23, 2012 – Launched the first Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) in Melaka with another UTC open at Pudu Sentral on Sept 22, 2012.
* June 24, 2012 – Launched the 1Malaysia People’s Taxi (TR1Ma) programme with incentives worth nearly RM35 million for the taxi driver community
* July 7, 2012 – Introduced the Small Medium Industry (PKS) Master Plan to develop PKS to a high level through improved productivity.
* July 14, 2012 – Launched the 1Malaysia People’s Textile Shop as a continuous government effort to lighten the burden of the people.
* July 15, 2012 – Launched the 1Malaysia For Youth (1M4U), a voluntary programme among the multi-racial people under the 1Malaysia concept.
* Aug 7, 2012 – Introduced the ‘1Malaysia Privilege Card’ specially for 241,000 members of the police and armed forces.
* Sept 28, 2012 – Implemented the second round of the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) and was extended to unmarried individuals aged 21 years and above.
* Nov 12, 2012 – Introduced the 1Malaysia One Call Centre (1MOCC) which operates 24 hours a day to raise the civil service to a niche level.
* Feb 15, 2013 – Launched the 1Malaysia People’s Welfare Programme (KARISMA @Hati Rakyat) as the latest initiative to help people with low income and the poor with an allocation of RM50 million to be distributed to 200,00 recipients.
* March 16, 2013 – The first mini UTC was open at Bandar Baru Sentul Business and Community Complex in Kuala Lumpur.
* March 19, 2013 – The 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) was made an annual initiative.
2. HUMAN RIGHTS AND NATIONAL SECURITY
* April 3, 2009 – Najib announced release of 13 Internal Security Act (ISA) detainees, as well as a review of the act.(In his maiden message upon assuming government leadership).
* April 3, 2009 – Also announced lifting of one-month suspension on Harakah and Suara Keadilan imposed earlier.
* July 9, 2009 – Disallowed national banking system to be used in transactions for the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
* Sept 15, 2011 (In conjunction with Malaysia Day on Sept 16) – Abolished the ISA, apart from comprehensively reviewing the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, as well as Section 27 of the Police Act 1967.
* Oct 5, 2011 – Repealed the Banishment Act 1959 (Act 79) after it had not been in use in the last 34 years, repealed the Restricted Residence Act 1933 and announced the immediate release of 125 individuals who were detained under the act, as well as the cancellation of 200 warrants issued earlier.
* Nov 24, 2011 – Tabled the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011 at Dewan Rakyat which among others, eliminated the need to obtain an assembly licence.
* Nov 24, 2011 – Repealed three Emergency Proclamations of 1966, 1969 and 1977. Freed 36 detainees under the Emergency Ordinance.
* April 19, 2012 – Universities and University Colleges Act 1974 amendment was passed at Dewan Rakyat, to allow undergraduates aged 21 and above to join politics.
* Sept 28, 2012 – When tabling the 2013 Budget, the government agreed to set up 1,000 units of Motorcycle Patrol Unit (URB) with an allocation of RM20 million.
* Sept 28, 2012 – One-off gift of RM1,000 to ex-army personnel who retired with less than 21 years of service and were not eligible for pension. A total of 224,000 former members of the armed forces benefited.
* Dec 15, 2012 – Introduced the 1Malaysia Veteran Recognition programme for the welfare of the Malaysian Armed Forces.
* March 7, 2013 – The prime minister warned Sulu terrorists who were still hiding in Sabah that they have no choice but to lay down their arms and surrender.
* March 11, 2013 – Streamlined ranks in the Malaysian Armed Forces and police with the general public service.
* March 25, 2013 – Created the East Sabah Safety Zone (ESSZONE) covering 10 districts to provide the legal basis for the Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM).
* March 30, 2013 – Najib announced an additional 1,000 URB units.
3. ADMINISTRATION
* April 9, 2009 – Najib introduced the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) to evaluate the performance of members of his cabinet — ministers and deputy ministers — in achieving the administration’s objective of “People First, Performance Now”.
* July 18, 2009 – Carried out reform in the civil service sector with the proposal for top positions in major sectors to be open to the private sector and GLC, apart from the Administrative and Diplomatic Service.
* July 27, 2009 – Introduced the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for six National Key Result Areas (NKRA) and appointed Datuk Idris Jala as the chief executive officer of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu).
(The main areas on the KPI are to reduce crimes, eradicate corruption, open opportunities for affordable and quality education, improve the living standards of the poor communities, improve infrastructure in the rural areas and improve
public transportation.
* Jan 27, 2010 – The prime minister launched the master implementation plan for Government Transformation Programme (GTP), in relation to the six NKRA.
* Feb 8, 2010 – Najib outlined four main pillars to be implemented by the civil service to ensure the achievement of the agenda for the year, namely the 1Malaysia concept, People First, Performance Now, Government Transformation Programme (GTP), New Economic Model and the 10th Malaysia Plan (RMK10).
* Feb 23, 2010 – Announced an allocation of RM3.4 billion for Sarawak through NKRA to expedite all development projects in the state, especially in rural areas.
* Feb 23, 2010 – Announced a special allocation of RM35 million for three projects to improve the people’s living standards in four relocation schemes under the Rajang Security Command (Rascom) in Sibu, Sarawak.
* April 4, 2011 – Najib wanted every civil servant to assimilate the four important elements in the ‘Blue Ocean Strategy’ in managing their duties, namely to eliminate-reduce-raise and create opportunities.
* Aug 26, 2012 – Introduced the 7th National Blue Ocean Strategy ((NBOS 7), an initiative linking the UTC and RTC through food products and agricultural produce to towns on a large scale
* Sept 28, 2012 – An additional one month bonus for civil servants in which the first payment was made in December 2012 while another month more was paid in January 2013 and a payment of RM500 to government retirees.
* March 19, 2013 – Tabling of the National Transformation Programme Annual Report (a large portion of the GTP and ETP objectives were met)
* March 25, 2013 – Approved the Pension Fund claim, fixed housing allowance, completion of service consolation payment and streamline the Employees Provident Fund contributions of seven statutory bodies.
4. ECONOMY AND FINANCE
* March 10, 2009 – Announced the Second Economic Stimulus Package and its implementation mechanism.
* April 22, 2009 – Liberalised 27 service sub-sectors.
* April 27, 2009 – Announced the liberalisation of the national financial sector.
* April 27, 2009 – Malaysia became the first country to have a mega Islamic financial institution with a paid-up capital of at least US$1 billion (RM3.1 billion).
* May 15, 2009 – A financial guarantee institution, Danajamin Nasional Berhad was established to facilitate companies obtain better access to the Malaysian bond market.
* June 24, 2009 – Najib proposed the setting up of a national Baitulmal to coordinate properties owned by Muslims in Malaysia.
* June 30, 2009 – Najib announced comprehensive investment guidelines of the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC).
* July 1, 2009 – The prime minister launched Felda Global Ventures (Felda Global) as the sole integrated commercial machinery of Felda group.
* Oct 23, 2009 – Najib tabled for the first time, the 2010 Budget at Dewan Rakyat themed, 1Malaysia, Together We Prosper, with an allocation of RM191.5 billion.
* Dec 23, 2009 – Reintroduced the Real Property Gains Tax from the sale of property, irrespective of the year the property was purchased.
* March 30, 2010 – Announced the New Economic Model which outlined eight strategic reform initiatives.
* June 10, 2010 – Tabled the 10th Malaysia Plan (RMK10).
* Oct 25, 2010 – Launched the Economic Transformation Programme with 18 Entry Point Projects (EPP).
* Jan 11, 2011 – Announced 19 more EPP which would generate investments worth RM67 billion.
5. FOREIGN AFFAIRS
* April 10, 2009 – Led a Malaysian delegation as prime minister to the 14th Asean Summit Conference and its related summits in Pattaya, Thailand
* June 3, 2009 – First foreign leader to be given honour to speak at the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, China in conjunction with an official visit.
* Sept 30, 2009 – Najib announced economic cooperation between Malaysia and Saudi Arabia through a joint-venture company with a capital of US$2.5 billion (RM8.65 billion) to manage the flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) from West Asia, as well as in strategic investments with high impact in the country.
* Oct 6, 2009 – First Malaysian leader in Malaysia’s 50-year relation with the Unesco to deliver a keynote address at Unesco conference opening session in Paris, France.
* Oct 26, 2009 – Free Trade Agreement between Malaysia and New Zealand signed.
* April 12, 2010 – Held four-eye meeting with President Barack Obama at the Walter E. Washington Convention Centre in Washington, USA.
* Sept 27, 2010 – Delivered maiden speech at the United Nations in New York, USA, in which Najib called on all countries to “choose moderation and reject extremism”.
* July 12, 2011 – Held official visit to the United Kingdom and invited heads of industries to explore investment opportunities in Malaysia.
* May 18, 2011 – Attended the “Invest Malaysia New York 2011” in New York, USA and attracted new investments of between RM5 and RM6 billion.
* Oct 15, 2012 – Witnessed the historical peace agreement between the Philippines and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Manila, Philippines.
* Jan 22, 2013 – Became the first Malaysian prime minister to set foot on Palestine during his humanitarian visit to Gaza.
6. TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION
* July 24, 2009 – Established the Green Technology Council to promote green technology and its practice.
* Sept 15, 2009 – Announced the 1Malaysia F1 Team managed by locals in the field of motoring.
* Oct 28, 2009 – Announced the National Automative Policy (NAP) involving 18 new measures which include requiring passenger vehicles aged 15 years and above to undergo inspections at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) as a condition to renew road tax from next year, complete with abolition of open import permit (AP) for used vehicle from 2016 and the AP franchise by 2021.
* Oct 29, 2009 – National Innovation Centre (MyNIC) and a network of Innovation Centres of Excellence (iCoE) set up to encourage creative and innovative activities as a new national commercial resource.
* Dec 17, 2009 – Najib announced Malaysia’s commitment on voluntary carbon and greenhouse gases emission of up to 40 per cent from the intensity of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2020, as compared to the level in 2005 at the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in Denmark.
* Jan 26, 2010 – Launched the Green Technology Funding Scheme which was a commitment of the government in improving the sector. It was in line with the Kuala Lumpur pledge at the Climate Change Conference to reduce carbon and greenhouse gases to protect the environment for future generations.
* March 24, 2010 – Announced four incentives in the National Broadband Initiative (NBI) to transform Malaysia from a medium income nation to become a developed country.
* Nov 10, 2010 – The government announced measures to raise the value of GDP by increasing usage of broadband in the country towards 50 per cent penetration by the end of next year, compared to only 24 per cent now.
* Sept 8, 2011 – Launched the Framework and Low Carbon City Evaluation System with the aim of reducing 40 per cent of the carbon dioxide produced in cities by 2020.
* July 7, 2011 – Introduced Energy Efficiency through Sustainability and a rebate of RM200 cash to domestic consumers who bought air-conditioners and refrigerators with 5-star rating.
7. POLITICS
* March 26, 2009 – Declared as the new president of Umno, uncontested at the 2008 Umno General Assembly at Dewan Merdeka, Putra World Trade Centre.
* April 24, 2009 – Appointed as Selangor Umno Liaison chairman.
* Aug 15, 2011 – Announced the formation of a Parliamentary Select Committee with representatives of BN and opposition parties to discuss election reforms.
* Nov 29, 2012 – Launched the book entitled, ‘Transformasi Politik: Mendaulatkan Hak Asasi Serta Demokrasi Pemerintahan Rakyat untuk Rakyat’ which delved in detail each transformation implemented by the government.
* Feb 20, 2013 – Signed the Transparency International Election Integrity Pledge and strengthened his commitment to fight corruption, especially in the coming 13th General Election.
8. GLOBAL RECOGNITION TO MALAYSIA UNDER NAJIB’S ADMINISTRATION
* In the 2011 Doing Business Facility Report by the World Bank, Malaysia was listed in the top 20 and shared top position in the world, in terms of obtaining business loans.
* Global Peace Index (GPI) 2011 study found Malaysia among the 19 safest countries from 153 countries in the world. Malaysia was also placed as the most peaceful country in Southeast Asia and the fourth in Asia-Pacific after New Zealand, Japan and Australia.
* World Economic Forum 2012 Report saw Malaysia leap five rungs in the global economic competitiveness, as compared to the year earlier, making Malaysia among the 21 most competitive economies in the world.
* Consultant A. T. Kearney recognised Malaysia as the top 10 countries in the Direct Foreign Confidence Index for 2012.
* World Bank Ease of Doing Business Report 2013 placed Malaysia as the 12th most business-friendly country in the world.
* World Competitiveness Yearbook 2012/2013 Report found Malaysia as the 14th most competitive country.
* Malaysia was named the 10th most attractive direct investment destination in the 2012 Direct Investment Confidence Index.
9. EDUCATION
* Jan 25, 2010 – 20 out of 10,000 schools selected as High Performance Schools (SBT).
* Oct 7, 2011 – Allocated cash assistance of RM100 for all school students and RM200 book vouchers for university students.
BERNAMA