Investing In well-being of girls, women a smart move - Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said investing in girls' and women's education, health, safety, rights and financial independence not only pays but is also a smart investment.He said there were undeniable values in such investments as when girls and women were empowered, the benefits would extend beyond the individuals.

"Freed from the unnatural constraints of inequality, women can realise their potential as active participants in the community and in the world," he said.Addressing the 3rd Global Conference on Women Deliver 2013 here today, Najib spoke about the government's commitment to ensure that the health and well-being of girls and women in this country were viewed as priorities, not mere afterthoughts.

Najib noted that with the government's re-election came new and increased commitment to empower women and girls in an effort to drive the nation's development forward."Every girl and woman in Malaysia, regardless of her religion, political affiliation, social status or location, deserves a safe, healthy and prosperous life. Our national, regional and global stability depends on it," Najib said.

Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also patron of the conference, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim and Women Deliver president Jill Sheffield.

More than 3,000 delegates, including policymakers, advocates and international leaders representing over 150 countries, are attending the three-day conference beginning Tuesday.Malaysia is the first Asian country to be given the honour to host the global conference previously held in London and Washington D.C.

The event is touted as the largest global conference of the decade to focus on the health and well-being of girls and women. It is organised by Women Deliver which is headquartered in New York.

Najib said as Malaysia strove to become a developed nation by the end of the decade, the challenge was to ensure that the country's economic growth was truly inclusive with opportunities created and open to all citizens, and women were afforded the same rights, respect and opportunities as men.

"That will not happen from the top-down, change must come in the workplace, in the villages, in the mind of all Malaysians," he said.He noted that health advocates and experts must be ready to engage in dialogue with faith leaders to dispel negative perceptions on matters pertaining to girls' and women's health.

Women and girls, he said, must be empowered to make informed choices and take personal responsibility for their health within a social fabric that encouraged it.The prime minister said problems like teenage pregnancies, abandoned babies, early marriage and sexually transmitted infections must be addressed without stigma or discrimination.

"This will sometimes require a change in mindset, a willingness to look again at our approach, to ask ourselves whether we're doing all we can to put girls' and women's health first," he said.He stressed the importance of educating girls on their health and well-being which he believed would further lower maternal mortality and morbidity rates, help halt the spread of diseases including HIV and AIDS as well as improve child health and nutrition.

Investing in universal education without gender discrimination had yielded results beyond expectations, but the challenge for Malaysia, as for many other countries, was to ensure that success in the classroom carried over into life outside it, he added.

Malaysia vote: PM Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional wins

Malaysia's ruling coalition has won a simple majority in the country's election, extending its 56-year rule.

The Election Commission said Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional (BN; National Front) coalition won 133 of the 222 in parliamentary seats - its worst-ever election performance.

The opposition won 89 seats, up from 82, in Sunday's election.Defeated opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim accused the ruling coalition of widespread fraud.

Voters - some 80% of whom cast ballots - had been faced with returning the ruling coalition or choosing Mr Anwar's untested three-party alliance, Pakatan Rakyat.Malaysian shares reacted positively to news that the BN had won.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia KLCI Index jumped 6.8% to a lifetime high of 1,808.90 in early trade on Monday. The local currency, the ringgit, hit a 10-month high.

'Polarisation'

In the 2008 polls, the BN lost its two-thirds majority in parliament for the first time - something it failed to regain in these elections.

As the result was confirmed, Mr Najib, 59, urged all Malaysians to accept his coalition's victory but acknowledged there was work ahead.

"One of the programmes we will undertake is national reconciliation... I think we realise that there are a lot of things we have to do as a party," he said.He noted that ethnic Chinese voters had turned to the opposition, which has pledged to reform the government's affirmative action policies that benefit ethnic Malays, in what he called "a Chinese tsunami".

Anwar said irregularities cost him seats

"The results show a trend of polarisation which worries the government. If it is not addressed, it can create tension or division in the country," Mr Najib said.Unconfirmed reports suggested that the coalition did not receive a majority of the popular vote.

Tallies by independent online media gave the BN coalition 49% of the vote, which would make Mr Najib the first leader to win with a minority of the popular vote, AFP news agency reported.Mr Anwar, meanwhile, accused the authorities of widespread abuses which he said had distorted the result of the election."It is an election that we consider fraudulent and the Electoral Commission has failed," he told a news conference after midnight on Monday.

Election was considered Malaysia's most keenly contested poll since independence

PM Najib Razak leads the long-dominant coalition Barisan Nasional (National Front)

Anwar Ibrahim leads the three-party opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat Key poll issues included corruption, race-based policies that favour ethnic Malays, and the economy

Turnout was estimated at a record 80%, election officials said

"We see these irregularities have cost us many seats, particularly those with narrow margins," he said.

Allegations of election fraud had surfaced before the election. Some of those who voted in advance told BBC News that indelible ink on their hands - supposed to last for days and show they had already voted - had easily washed off.

The opposition also accused the government of funding flights for supporters to key states, which the government denied.Independent pollster Merdeka Center cited unconfirmed reports of foreign nationals being given ID documents and being allowed to vote.

There were also reports of attacks against independent media. Most traditional media in Malaysia are linked to the ruling parties.This result is a bitter blow to the opposition coalition, after a spirited campaign that tapped into a hunger for change among many younger Malaysians, the BBC's Jonathan Head in Kuala Lumpur reports.

They had believed a surge of support, especially in urban areas, would be enough to unseat a ruling coalition that has been in government for more than half a century, our correspondent adds.Thousands of opposition supporters swapped their Facebook profile photos for black boxes to show their dismay when they learned that the ruling coalition had retained power, AP news agency reported.

Malaysia’s economy ‘to pick up pace in 2H2013’

KUALA LUMPUR, May 20 — The Malaysian economy will pick up pace and grow further in the second half of this year following the moderate performance in the first quarter, says a leading banker.

Maybank president and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar said the moderation in the gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first quarter reflected the weak economic activities during the period.

“I expect the economy to pick up in the second half, driven by the removal of the political uncertainty and the government’s strong economic policy,” Abdul Wahid, who has been appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU), told reporters after attending the SSM National Conference here today.

Bank Negara Malaysia announced last week that Malaysia’s GDP expanded by 4.1 per cent in the first quarter of this year amid the weaker external environment compared with 5.1 per cent in the same quarter last year and 6.5 per cent in the fourth quarter 2012.    

Abdul Wahid said the country’s economic driver would be the new government economic plans.

“The Maybank Investment segment has forecast about 5.3 per cent growth this year and the government expects about five to six per cent. I believe we should achieve somewhere along there,” he said.

Abdul Wahid said he was confident that Maybank Islamic would contribute one third to Maybank group’s earnings.“We expect the Islamic bank segment to contribute more and achieve one third by 2015,” he said, adding that currently Maybank Islamic contributed about 30 per cent to the Maybank group’s earnings.

He said the Islamic banking was growing especially in Malaysia.Asked on the bank’s succession plan, Abdul Wahid said the board of directors were in discussions to pick his successor.

“I’m sure the bank has a good succession plan and they probably need some time before making any announcement,” he said.Abdul Wahid said he would resign as Maybank president and chief executive officer on June 4.“But before this, let me complete my duties at Maybank, which will release its first quarter financial results on May 23,” he said.

Abdul Wahid described his new responsibility as the minister in charge of the EPU as a very challenging task.

“I’m very nervous on my new position as a minister, this is a public office, with a mammoth responsibility, but I’m honoured to serve the country.

“This is a great challenge and I will do my best,” he said.After helming three corporate giants, namely UEM Builders Bhd, Telekom Malaysia Bhd and Maybank, he will take his oath of office as a senator on June 5 to assume his minister’s post. – Bernama  

Malaysians need to calm down and unite

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s 1Malaysia concept remains relevant despite efforts to interpret the outcome of the 13th general election in a racial context, say analysts.

Political analyst Dr Ibrahim Ghafar said the main consideration is that the Barisan Nasional (BN) managed to win 133 of the 222 parliamentary seats.

“We have to bear in mind that the 1Malaysia concept has nothing to do with political preferences or ideologies.“Furthermore, its effectiveness thus far has been demonstrated by the majority of the people voting for moderation, which is represented by the BN,” he said.

Ibrahim said it cannot be denied that at first glance, 1Malaysia appears to be drowned by political ideologies and, in particular, by what the media keeps referring to as the ‘Chinese tsunami’ which garnered a big win for the opposition DAP.He stressed that this polarization was all the more reason for the 1Malaysia concept to be instilled and strengthened among the multiracial communities.

The DAP won 38 parliamentary seats on May 5 on the wave of solid Chinese support in the urban areas despite Chinese candidates from the BN contesting in the same seats.

“I believe, however, that there are still many Chinese who support the BN. There are many Chinese in the constituencies which the BN won.“Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has made it clear that his priority now is national reconciliation, and for the people to unite towards nation-building despite their political differences.

“And this is where the 1Malaysia concept should be promoted as a medium for racial unity,” he said.

‘Shed hardcore political beliefs’

Dr Noor Sulastry Yurni Ahmad, a senior lecturer at the Anthropology and Sociology Department, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Universiti Malaya, is of the opinion that national integration will not be achieved if people refuse to shed their hardcore political beliefs.

“The prime minister introduced the 1Malaysia concept to bring the communities closer, to appreciate and implement all aspects of national unity regardless of political beliefs.“In fact, the concept also treats racial diversity as a basis to strengthen unity.

“What’s important now is that after the majority have given BN the mandate, the party must be given the chance and support to rectify weaknesses and deliver their promises in the next five years. As a peace-loving nation people should also continue supporting 1Malaysia,” she said.

A similar opinion was shared by Malaysian Indian Welfare Association president A Prakash who felt that 1Malaysia was a more suitable concept to unite the multiracial community, which could not be achieved through a political avenue.“We must be grateful for the peace we have and for the freedom to practice our religions and cultures,” he said.

Malaysian Youth Movement president Tan Pei Leong said the outcome of the general election should be accepted by everyone with an open heart.“We must close this chapter. Malaysians need to calm down and unite, and not provoke each other. We must give the government a chance to prove itself over the next five years,” he said.

Vote BN to maintain peace, harmony: DPM

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin today spoke about "Malaysia then and now" to highlight Barisan Nasional's (BN) accomplishments, during his campaign to touch base with the Malay community here.

Speaking to more than 1,200 BN supporters in the Pasir Panjang state constituency, he said Malaysia has achieved all that it has today because of BN's efforts and urged the people not to forget the services of the government.

"The Opposition will always say that development in Malaysia is unfair and that it helps only one race and neglects others.

"You can see for yourselves whether the allegations hurled at the government are true," Muhyiddin said.

Stressing that Perak is one of the states in the country that has reduced its poverty rate, he said this could only be achieved under BN.

Pointing to the growing economy in the country, Muhyiddin compared how people lived 30 years ago to the living standards today.

"This is the reason all of you should vote for BN. All these years, people have lived comfortably and peacefully.

"Do you want to change this situation? Do you want a country with chaos and disharmony?" he asked.

Muhyiddin said the Opposition's cries for change (ubah) will not work, because the people are comfortable with what they have now.

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Malaysia sets date for landmark elections

The date for Malaysia's highly anticipated polls, which are expected to be the closest in the country's history, has been set, the head of the country's electoral watchdog has announced.

Malaysia's general election is to be held on May 5, Aziz Yusof, the Election Commission chairman, said on Wednesday.

Yusof said balloting would be preceded by a two-week official campaign period kicking off on April 20.

The general elections will determine whether Prime Minister Najib Razak's governing coalition, can extend nearly 56 years of uninterrupted rule and prevail over an opposition alliance that accuses it of corruption and authoritarianism.

The opposition Peoples' Alliance, led by Anwar Ibrahim, the former deputy minister won five of Malaysia's 13 states in 2008 and stands a strong chance of toppling the coalition.Ibrahim however is calling for faster political and economic reform and has pledged to tackle government authoritarianism and corruption.

He has promised tax cuts, an increase in subsidies and to address complaints of discrimination against minority ethnic Chinese and Indians. 

About 13.3 million Malaysians will be eligible to cast ballots to fill 222 seats in the federal parliament and to choose representatives for 12 state legislatures.The National Front won 2008 polls with less than a two-thirds parliamentary majority in its worst electoral performance since independence from Britain in 1957.

The Great Achievements of Najib Razak

Najib Razak was born into the family of politicians and was given a chance to lead the people quite early in life, when his father passed away. Najib Tun razak was at a ripe age of 22, and he became the youngest member of the Malaysian parliament. He had the leadership blood in him being born in the Razak family and thus he never had trouble in working for the people and leading them towards development. He was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister, in the year 2004, which was exactly 47 years after his father had been appointed at the same post.

Being educated at St. John’s Institution which is a great institution in Kuala Lumpur and then at the Malvern Boy’s College in Worcestershire, England, he also earned a degree in Industrial Economics from the Nottingham University. Once he returned to Malaysia in the year 1974, he joined the corporate world, when he started working with the Bank Negara (or the Central Bank) and later he moved to work with PETRONAS (the national petroleum corporation) as the in charge of as a Public Affairs. But due to the death of his father, Tun Abd Razak, his life took a turn which even he was not prepared for.

But then Najib Tun Razak had the quality of a fighter and a leader running in his blood, and thus it was not much time before he quickly adapted to the public life when he joined the Parliament. Within some time of his joining the parliament he was able to prove his credibility along with his capability as a politician to the people along with his colleagues. During the very first year of his joining as the MP, he was appointed at the post of Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Posts, and then he was given charge of Deputy Minister of Education and Deputy Minister of Finance.

At the age of 29, he became the Menteri Besar of Pahang, after he won the elections for the state assembly elections of Pekan. Pahang, being the biggest state in Peninsular Malaysia was a first great achievement for Najib. Najib Tun Razak  was able to tone down the political crisis that Pahang was going through as he was welcomed to the Pahang Royal Court (as he had inherited the title of the Orang Kaya Indera Shahbandar). The crisis was solved and toned down and then Najib moved towards strengthening the whole education of the state of Pahang.

From working with the youths to promote education and sports amongst the people of Pahang, to promoting a new land scheme with the help of FELDA, the Federal Land Development Authority, he worked towards providing a new way to earn money for the landless and the people in the lower income group. Najib Tun Razak was the prime mover to change the way of games in the country and was an important part of the delegate which brought the SEA games to the country. He has also been part of the Human Rights commission along with the Election Commission of the country. 

Najib woos federal agency workers with better perks

KUALA LUMPUR, March 25 ― The Najib Razak administration today moved to appease some 40,000 employees of federal agencies by agreeing to boost their benefits ahead of key national polls.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri NajibRazak announced today Putrajaya’s approval for a new pension fund, the provision of fixed allowances and gratuity for retirees, and the streamlining of Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contributions for all seven bodies, meaning employers’ contribution will be made commensurate with the duration of service.

“This is a government that hears the pulse of the people. We must put the people first,” Najib said in his speech before some 2,000 statutory body employees at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

The move came after months of negotiations between Najib’s government and workers’ unions, which at one point threatened to back the opposition should Putrajaya fail to meet the demands made since 2008, according to an anonymous union leader.

The civil service is a key vote bank for the ruling BarisanNasional (BN) coalition, which is gearing up for what is set to be its toughest election to date.Wary of a possible discontent within the public service, Najib Razak moved to placate the key voter group by agreeing to meet their demands for improved benefits as well as increasing pay.But the prime minister was quick to dismiss suggestions that his government was adopting populist measures to sustain support from the civil servants, saying today’s announcement was done after careful consideration based on economic viability.

Najib Razak said populism was a tactic favoured only by the opposition, and argued that meeting the election pledges made by Pakatan Rakyat would bankrupt the country.“If we take this populist attitude, giving everything without considering the importance of good governance, the country would descend into the valley of economic destruction,” he said.The federal opposition bloc Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had in its election manifesto promised to increase salaries both in the public and private sectors through better management of the economy.

It also promised to continue subsidising fuel and basic goods, where BN announced plans to slash subsidies amid concerns of rising public debt; PR leaders insist their welfare programmes are viable if corruption is tackled.

Najib’s government had described PR’s pledges as unrealistic, unreasonable and populist. In turn, his administration was accused of courting voters through policies such as the cash handouts under the 1 Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) that cost more than RM1 billion public funds.The BR1M programme had contributed significantly to the prime minister’s approval rating, according to a previous MerdekaCenter survey, and Najib Razak had promised to make it an annual event should BN retain power.

People’s support for BN, 1Malaysia concept gets stronger

KUALA LUMPUR: The people’s support for the government led by Barisan Nasional (BN) and the concept of 1Malaysia is getting stronger and stronger, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.He said this was proven by the survey carried out by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, where 74.2 per cent of the respondents were satisfied with BN government under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also Defence Minister, said 17 per cent of the respondents, however, were indecisive, while four per cent were dissatisfied.

The survey on the support for the 1Malaysia concept showed that 74.4 per cent of the respondents were satisfied, 12 per cent indecisive and five per cent, dissatisfied.

“We have also sent aid and assistance to help the people in other countries. During the tsunami in Acheh and earthquake in Padang, Malaysia was the first country to send its aid and assistance,” he said.Ahmad Zahid said Umno election machinery at all levels should play a bigger role both in reality and in cyber space.“The war trumpet has been blown, we hope the cybertroopers will be with us in countering the attacks from the opposition,” he said.

“The imperical survey done by Assoc Prof Dr Ismail Sualman was a recognised effort involving 28,788 respondents,” he said when winding-up the debate at the 2012 Umno General Assembly here today.Ahmad Zahid apart from offering its service to the people in the country, the BN government had also contributed towards world peace by assisting the Moro Islamic Libaration Front to sign a peace treaty with the Philippine government and supporting cease fire in Palestine.

On the allegation that the Royal Malay Regiment (RAMD) would be abolished should the opposition manage to rule the counrty after the 13th general election, Ahmad Zahid said the RAMD would definitely fight against the idea as they were the secret power to defend the testament of Malay rulers.He also called on the people not to insult the Malaysian Armed Forces, but to appreciate their contributions in strengthening the country’s defence and security.

Speed Up Political Reform to Engage Youth, Urges Khairy

 Is it possible that Umno's rising star and likely future leader is getting restless? His speech to the Umno Youth Assembly Wednesday was as inspiring as we would expect from the youth leader but included a call to get a move on which was aimed at the Federal Government.

He focussed on training, youth jobs and financial assistance aimed at helping young people but then he told the Government it needs to pick up the pace of political reform to better engage with youth.

Addressing an audience containing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah he said: "UMNO Youth advocates that the government continue this political transformation so that the younger generation does not have to look elsewhere for political reform."

"When young people think of change, we want them to believe that BN (Barisan Nasional) is the ultimate choice," he said.

This was hardly a call for revolution within Umno but Khairy's sense of urgency should not be ignored. Umno has been in Government for five and a half decades and for most of the time it is fair to say reform has not been the top priority.

The Najib Government, shaped by GE12, has been different. Political reforms such as the scrapping of the ISA have been monumental but it could also be argued, a long time coming. For Khairy that is a perception Umno needs to deal with if it is to attract the next generation of voters.

The Bersih violence was youth impatience in action. By the time the rally arrived it had become such a broad cause that it is impossible to say what any particular individual was protesting. After all most taking part knew the lion's share of the voting reforms had by then been agreed to.

But the restlessness of the young was palpable, hence Khairy's call Wednesday to make his party synonymous with political (and therefore generational) change.

After his address it is unlikely that Najib would have taken Khairy to task for breaking ranks as the Umno President is one of the first to admit BN in Government has been too slow to change. Najib is actually often frustrated that he cannot push reforms even faster.

But with the seismic political transformation we have seen in 2012 and the success of the Economic Transformation Programme that has been praised by the World Bank and the IMF, few people can say that Malaysia at the end of 2012 is the same nation it was at GE12.

Khairy deserved his moment in the spotlight at the Umno General Assembly because this has been his year. When someone from BN was required to take Pakatan to task over its dribble of populist promises throughout 2012 such as its plan to scrap PTPTN, the Government didn't call upon a cabinet minister but Khairy. That way when he told PKR Strategic Director Rafizi Ramli that his promises would cost RM23 billion, the rakyat could see the youth leadership of both parties on show.

And what a contrast it has been. While Khairy has been getting on with making a name for himself in Umno, Rafizi has been a casualty of the PKR Selangor civil war and faces criminal charges for making public confidential financial records over the NFC affair.

Azmin Ali, the man Khairy debated live on television in May, has all but abandoned his national ambitions settling instead for a tilt at the Selangor Menteri Besar's job – even if he has to stage a coup to get it.

The third "bright spark" in PKR, Nurul Izzah Anwar, has dealt her ambitions a self-inflicted blow with her comments about Muslims choosing their religion.

PKR is a party that seems to have given up nurturing the next generation of leadership. The enthusiasm of the Umno Youth event here at the general assembly is a sign that Umno's next generation is energetic and if Khairy is anything to go by, ready for Najib to introduce more change after GE13.