Wednesday January 9, 2013

Najib quashes speculation about his health

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has quashed talk that he suffered a stroke over the weekend, stressing that he is in good health.

The Prime Minister brought up the subject when he launched the Exchange Traded Bonds and Sukuk (ETBS) at Bursa Malaysia yesterday.

Expressing his delight to be present at the event, Najib said there were heightened expectations that Bursa Malaysia would cross the “magic level” of 1,700 points.

“Bursa Malaysia is healthy, the bond market is healthy and I am also healthy. So, don't listen to the blogs, please,” he said, drawing laughter and applause from the crowd.

There had been speculation in the past few days about Najib's health following a posting in the pro-Pakatan Rakyat blog Sarawak Report, which carried the heading “Najib Stroke” on Saturday.

Hale and hearty: Najib at the launch of the DanaInfra Nasional Berhad’s Retail Sukuk at Bursa Malaysia. Also present are (from left) Bursa’s chairman Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, Finance Ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah and DanaInfra’s chairman Datuk Mat Noor Nawi.

“Word is seeping out that the Prime Minister of Malaysia suffered a minor stroke' over the weekend,” the posting claimed.

Najib yesterday unveiled yet another innovation in Islamic finance with the launch of the Exchange Traded Bonds and Sukuk, aimed to make bonds and sukuk available to all investors and Islamic bonds being traded widely.

“Malaysia must remain an open, outward-facing economy; a world-leader in strategic sectors and key player in a multi-trillion-dollar regional market,” Najib said.

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Wednesday January 9, 2013

Najib quashes speculation about his health