Najib: Vital to maintain peace
(The Star) – “The basic principle – if we want to be harmonious – is that Muslims must not hurt the feelings of non-Muslims and non-Muslims must not hurt the feelings of Muslims. If you go on the premise on who is right and who is wrong, we will never agree”.
Maintain the peace in Malaysia. That is what Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called fellow Malaysians to do.
“The basic principle – if we want to be harmonious – is that Muslims must not hurt the feelings of non-Muslims and non-Muslims must not hurt the feelings of Muslims.
“If you go on the premise on who is right and who is wrong, we will never agree.
“But if you go on the premise that we should not hurt feelings, then we will be a peaceful country forever,” he told reporters during the Hari Raya open house at his official residence here on Thursday.
He also said the goal to transform Malaysia into a fully developed nation was a commitment that spanned the tenure of three prime ministers.
He said the goal to transform Malaysia to become fully developed was a commitment first made by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, supported by his successor Tun Abdullah Badawi and now, to be carried on by himself as the country’s sixth Prime Minister.
“The only thing that is constant in this world is change. So, if you don’t change, you will be left behind,” said Najib.
Umno, he said, was also committed to the process of transformation to maintain its relevance as the country’s ruling party although the process might take a long time.
Najib, who is also Umno president and Barisan Nasional chief, said he agreed with criticisms that Umno had refused to reform itself but added that the party had started on its process of change.
“We have started the process by changing the (party) constitution. It may take more than just my time as Umno president. It may require a few generations.
“But for Umno to be relevant, Umno must move with the times so that it reflects the changing values of society,” he added.
Change, said Najib, was necessary so that Malaysia remained competitive in the global arena.
