Putrajaya, Dec 9 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Monday asked government pensioners to help explain to the people that the government’s introduction of all new measures are in their best interests.
He said they should do this to ensure that the government measures were not manipulated by certain quarters to undermine the efforts implemented for the people’s well-being.
“As former government officers, such as from the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), surely you will know why we have to strengthen our economy. When our economy is strong, we are able to help the people,” he said at the opening of the third general meeting of the Umno Club for retired senior government officers, here.
Najib said the government pensioners’ help to enable the people understand the measures introduced by the government to strengthen the economy was vital in averting any misconception.
“This includes the need to explain why we have to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST), whereby through the annual reduction of our fiscal deficit, we will become strong and our rating will increase, and Malaysia can become a developed nation soon enough,” he said.
Najib, who is also the Umno president, said dependence on the formal structure alone was not enough for the survival of Umno as there had to be support from various sectors and community groups.
“Past excellence (of Umno) is no guarantee of the future … what is necessary is for us to dare to make a difference, and we have to understand that the environment has changed,” he said.
The prime minister said that in the new environment or the new politics, as he called it, the old approach or business as usual would not guarantee the continued success of Umno.
“Only a party that is prepared to change will be seen as relevant.
“Therefore, this (change) is what I have described as the new politics, that is for us to play a role and convince the people that Umno is their guarantee of the nation’s future and not just that of the Malays and bumiputeras,” he said.
– Bernama
