Prime Minister of Malaysia’s New Year Message: A Happy 2013

January 1, 2013

December 31, 2012

Bismillahirahmanirrahim” (In the name of Allah The Most Merciful and Most Compassionate)

“Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh and Salam 1Malaysia.”

 Fellow Malaysians,

1.”Alhamdullilah” (Praise be to God), in a few more hours we will welcome the New year 2013. As Malaysians, we should be thankful that we will be celebrating the advent of the new year against the backdrop of our various successes and achievements through our combined efforts during 2012.

2.The year 2012 witnessed the end of the first phase of the Transformation Initiative involving the Government, Economic and Political sectors. This initiative has had most positive effects. At the international level, for example, there has been an encouraging increase in the country’s indices in various sectors. The World Bank report, Doing Business 2013, for example, has placed Malaysia as the 12th most business-friendly country in the world while the report of the World Competitiveness Yearbook 2012 has placed Malaysia as the 14th most competitive country in the world.

My beloved Malaysians,

3.In addressing the challenges ahead for Year 2013, and in order to build sustainable success, we need to learn from our past experiences. We have to carry on with and improve on what is good and has proven to be successful by rectifying all weaknesses. What has proven to have failed should be discarded and regarded as a lesson. In order to continue our efforts to achieve Malaysia’s national vision of a high-income developed nation, we have to build on the foundation that has been laid through the National Transformation Policy.

4.For the year 2013, we need to proceed with the national agenda to strengthen national unity, which is the core of the nation’s perpetuity, based on the 1Malaysia Philosophy of People First, Performance Now.

5.Secondly, we have to continue our efforts to improve the well-being ofthe people through the social safety net system whereby every Malaysian who needs aid will get it, where welfare and subsidy assistance are targeted at the truly needy, and reinforced by the welfare net of family, corporate and religious institutions.

6.Thirdly, we have to increase the wealth of the nation by ensuring sustainable economic growth and fiscal health, and stimulate the social movement rooted in hope, where the achievement of an individual is limited only by the imagination, entrepreneurship and the extent of the individual’s willingness to work hard and where the creativity, innovation and willingness to take risks will bring lucrative gains.

7.Fourthly, we have to ensure that Malaysia will be the best place to build a life; the best place to have a family and raise children, a country that has a caring society, a strong family system, neighbourhoods and streets safe from crime, a sustainable environment, quality schools and educational institutions, as well as the best and affordable health care system.

 My fellow Malaysians,

8.I am convinced and believe that the dawn of success will always shine on Malaysia and the life of its people. God willing, with careful and thorough planning and effective implementation, this day will be better than yesterday and tomorrow will bring endless possibilities.

 9. Let us ask ourselves what we can do to determine what we desire, what wecan dream of that can be achieved. There is no terminology for contributions small or big, only the willingness to do something. The country needs you, ladies and gentlemen. Join me to make our dream a reality. Stand by my side forus to together determine success, move along and work with me to carve a great future for our country and our children.

10.The government of today and I will not be able to serve you Malaysianswell without your solid backing and support. Give us a clear mandate and wepromise to use your trust to the best of our ability to build a Malaysia forall. All along, it has been proven that we have kept all our promises and commitments.

My fellow Malaysians,

 11.The future of the country and our children is too precious to be gambled or experimented with. Building a successful country requires continuous effort and a clear direction. Destroying a country only requires a short time, but the consequences will prolong. In our hands lies the decision of how the country’s future is to be shaped, of where we want to take Malaysia. Our founding fathers and mothers have steered Malaysia to great heights with blood, sweat and tears.Today, the responsibility lies on our shoulders, to determine whether Malaysiashould continue to move forward or lag behind.

 12. Malaysia is indeed a country where opportunities, responsibilities,prosperity and noble values are shared by a plural society, with an abundance of opportunities springing from various potentials. These potentials are a blessing. These potentials are the basis of aspirations. I urge that all of us together shape the destiny of realising Malaysia as an ever-shining potential.

13. Finally, I pray that the Year 2013 will bring blessings to all Malaysians.

Happy New Year 2013.

________________

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s 2013 Message

by http://www.malaysiakini.com

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, has pledged a better management of the country’s assets and economy and no leaders will be allowed to enrich themselves if Pakatan Rakyat comes to power.

In his five–minute New Year video message, Anwar said this was the promise or pledge that he is making, although it may not seem big.

“My small promise to you is that the nation’s assets will be managed properly as no robbery will be allowed. A minister, or the Prime Minister or ruling elite, would not be allowed to enrich themselves in taking the country’s assets and not be held accountable,” he said.

“That is our pledge to the people in 2013 and we hope that this is attainable when the country is geared for elections early this year,” he said.

Citing the negative reports on corruption and outflow of illicit funds from the country which involves billions of ringgit as highlighted in the Wall Street Journal and the Global Financial Integrity Report, he said this requires immediate attention. These reports, he said are shocking but do not leave an impression on the ruling elite in UMNO and BN.

“We must ensure that the leaders stop robbing the country’s assets and that the ruling elite would not enrich themselves, their family members or their cronies from the country’s finances and that the management of the economy would be better,” he said.

“If the economy is better managed, I am confident there will be equitable distribution of income and there would not be unhappiness among the races of being sidelined in not getting a portion of the economic pie,” he added.

The Global Financil Report lists Malaysia as the second biggest country after China to have money transferred out in the region of close to RM200 billion. Transparency International also lists Malaysia as among the highest in an international survey, where company competitors responded that they lose out on business due to bribery.

Free education for all

Anwar who is also Permatang Pauh MP, also pledged to provide free education for all from primary school to the tertiary level by properly managing the economy. For those who cannot or are unable to go to the university, Anwar pledged there would be various opportunities given to them to enrich their skills.

“There are those who question that the pledge is made because the election is looming. I do not hold that view as we have the capability and the economic strength through the gas reserves, palm oil, and revenue from income tax. The problem is the management of the economy, and I focus on education as this are pressing issue in the early part of they year. We will also focus on issues like housing, health, and ensuring price stability,” he said.

He said by focusing on education regardless of their ethnicity, religion or social standing, the nation can help build on their human capital to thrust the nation forward.