The Malaysian Insider

By Lee Wei Lian

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that he is unhappy about the various misconceptions over the 1 Malaysia concept which he introduced upon taking office in April last year.

“I am greatly saddened that such an idea, which is not terribly complicated, is so often not understood,” said Najib (picture) in his keynote speech at the 1 Malaysia Economic Conference here today.

Responses to 1 Malaysia have been varied — some have viewed it positively as a platform to unite Malaysians while some have said it was merely cosmetic with no substance. Others, especially from the conservative Malay groups, were initially apprehensive as they feared a loss of political and economic power due to 1 Malaysia’s apparently egalitarian overtones.

The 1 Malaysia concept was tested many times by numerous controversies including the cow-head protest in Shah Alam, the furore over Biro Tata Negara late last year and most recently the “Allah” controversy and the firebombing of several churches followed by the appearance of wild boar heads at two Kuala Lumpur mosques.

Najib’s own personal aide Datuk Nasir Safar had to recently resign over allegedly derogatory remarks about the non-Malays.

While Najib has said Nasir’s remarks did not reflect his stand nor that of his administration and the aide has since apologised for causing offence, the episode raised concerns that not everyone in the ruling party buys into the ideals of 1 Malaysia.

Despite the trials, the Najib administration has pressed on however and unveiled many initiatives and proposals including government transformation programmes, scholarships to foreign universities based on merit, higher intake of non-Malays into the civil service and a push for multi-racial schools, all in the name of 1 Malaysia.

“I can only reiterate what I have always said — that all Malaysians have and will have a stake in this country under 1 Malaysia and under the Malaysian sun,” Najib said today to a burst of applause from conference delegates.

“No one must be marginalised.”

He elaborated that 1 Malaysia is a “rallying cry” to all communities and classes to “join hands and hearts” to create a vibrant and dynamic nation.

“If it is not already blazingly clear, Malaysia and its economy are not enterprises of one or even a few. They are our collective work, requiring the talents, energies and sacrifices of all.”

Malaysia’s economic development has been widely acknowledged both locally and among foreign businesses and analysts as being hindered by its racial and religious hang-ups and Najib acknowledged that today when he said that he aims to build more social capital to address the problem.

He said that social capital along with private and human capital were the three components essential to achieving Malaysia’s goal of becoming a developed nation.

“To me, social capital is simply anything that draws disparate communities closer together, builds goodwill, trust and confidence... in other words, social capital builds relationships. It is the cement that holds this nation together. It is what makes for a dynamic and vibrant 1 Malaysia.”

The prime minister's speech at the economic conference was well received by at least some of the attendees.

Speaking to reporters after Day One of the conference, YTL group of companies managing director Tan Sri Francis Yeoh said: “It is good to have a prime minister with vision. He has said the right things, he has guts and he has the courage to move.”

The two-day economic conference is organised by the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Malaysia and held at the KLCC Convention Centre.

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