PM Wants Indian Bodies, Media to Help Explain Govt Transformation Program

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 APRIL, 2011: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants Indiancommunity-based bodies and the Tamil media to play a greater role in explaining the benefits of the government's transformation plan to Malaysian Indians.

Although he believed that the majority of Malaysian Indians supported the plan, Najib sensed a lack of excitement.

"Perhaps the lack of excitement is simply due to the lack of awareness of the plan, especially the economic transformation program, in the context of how it can benefit each and every community in this country, including the Indians," he said.

This was where bodies like the Malaysian Associated Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Tamil media could play their part to make the community realize the benefits of the economic and other transformation programs, Najib added at the 60th MAICCI anniversary dinnerhere.

Najib told the guests of about 10,000 that it was important to explain the benefits of the programs as he has made a commitment on behalf of the government that the Indian community would not be left out of the national agenda.

"This is not a political statement or mere rhetoric, but I am convinced that we can deliver a meaningful change to the Indian community so that someone who was disappointed by the government in the past must be addressed by the present leadership.

"I believe that the growing support of the Indian community for Barisan Nasional in the last few by-elections indicates that there is growing confidence among the Indian community that the BN government can deliver for the benefit of Malaysian Indians," he said.

To begin with, Najib said, the Indian community must understand the objective of the economic transformation program and various entry point projects and how these related to them as individuals.

"We need to now look at the program in great detail and how we can benefit from its implementation," he said.

The Prime Minister called on all Malaysians to join hands and embark on the transformative journey to ensure that the 1Malaysia concept could be translated into meaningful action to benefit the community at large.

- Bernama