Tuesday October 6, 2009
PM: Cash in on our diversity
By CHOI TUCK WO
PARIS: Malaysia can leverage on its diversity to bring economic benefits to the people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said the 1Malaysia concept should be seen not only from the cultural and social contexts but also from the point of strategic economic value.
Mingling with the crowd: Najib having a word with guests at the 1Malaysia Hari Raya open house at the Pavilion Dauphine on Sunday. Najib drew attention to the country’s multi-racial, multi-cultural and multi-religious population which bore elements of Asian civilisations.
He said Malaysia could, for instance, turn these into strategic advantages to facilitate its relations with countries like China, India, the Malay world and the Middle East.
“Let’s say if China were to make a decision to buy palm oil from Malaysia, it’s the people who will benefit most, including smallholders and Felda settlers,” he told more than 200 Malaysian students during a dialogue here on Sunday.
Later, Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor hosted a 1Malaysia Hari Raya open house for more than 900 people, including French officials and business leaders, at the historic Pavilion Dauphine.
Also present were Foreign Minister Datuk Anifah Aman, Deputy International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir, Deputy Education Minister Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi and Malaysian Ambassador to France Datuk S. Thanarajasingam.
Actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh and her fiancé, former F1 Ferrari boss Datuk Seri Jean Todt, flew in from Malaysia to attend the open house.
Najib dwelt at length on the 1Malaysia concept, saying it sent a powerful message to the world that Malaysia could become a successful nation despite its diversity.
“If we can celebrate our diversity, that will be the highest level of achievement,” he said, adding that it meant total acceptance of each other’s culture, faith and race.
He said throughout history, civilisations that prospered were inclusive and open while those which were closed and resistant to ideas and free movement of people withered away.
“If we adopt a closed attitude and reject new processes, our country will never take its rightful place among the world’s leading nations,” he said.
Najib said that being in France, the students would know the importance of opening up to new ideas and new cultures that would lead to more innovative and creative thinking.
“We have no choice but to take this path as it will bring us to greater heights,” he said, adding that choosing the easy option would mean mediocrity for the country which nobody would be proud of.
Yeoh expressed full support for 1Malaysia, saying that the people had lived harmoniously together like one big family despite their different beliefs.
“Whenever someone asks me, I’ll just say I am a Malaysian,” she said, obviously surprised with some requirements to state the race.
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