As you pray for a better life, I want all Malaysian Hindus to know that the Government is committed to continuing its efforts to uplift the Indian community. We will stand by you and work together towards overcoming the challenges you face and achieving the success you strive for. With continued ‘nambikei‘ or trust between the Government and the people, we will surely achieve all that we set out to do for the Indian community and indeed, for our country.

I take this opportunity to extend my greetings to all Hindus in Malaysia on the occasion of Thaipusam.

Assalamu ‘alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

Salam Sejahtera dan Salam 1 Malaysia,

Saudara dan Saudari sekalian,

Sesungguhnya kelahiran baginda Rasulullah SAW merupakan satu detik istimewa yang amat bermakna buat umat Islam di seluruh dunia. Maka pada 12 Rabiulawal 1434 Hijriah bersamaan dengan 24 Januari 2013 Masehi, sekali lagi kita meraikan sambutan yang penuh barakah ini di negara kita.

Rasulullah SAW merupakan pemimpin terunggul ummah yang begitu menyayangi umatnya dengan meninggalkan Al-Quran dan As Sunnah sebagai petunjuk kehidupan manusia sepanjang zaman. Sebagaimana firman Allah di dalam surah Al-Maidah ayat 15 yang bermaksud :

“Sesungguhnya telah datang kepada kamu cahaya kebenaran (Nabi Muhammad) dari Allah dan sebuah Kitab (Al-Quran) yang jelas nyata keterangannya.”

Rasulullah SAW adalah qudwah yang mengamalkan wasatiyyah dalam hidupnya. Bertepatan dengan tema sambutan Maulidur Rasul kali ini iaitu “Wasatiyyah Tonggak Kesatuan Ummah”, kita melihat konsep wasatiyyah yang baginda tunjukkan telah melahirkan kesatuan dan perpaduan umat Islam di seluruh dunia. Kesederhanaan yang diamalkan oleh baginda telah membawa kepada momentum dalam memacu kemajuan setiap bangsa dan negara di dunia ini.

Justeru, momentum ini perlu diteruskan untuk memastikan misi kita untuk membina negara maju dan berdaya saing mampu untuk dicapai. Sememangnya keyakinan mengenai kemampuan Malaysia dalam merapatkan hubungan antara barat dan Islam sepertimana yang diutarakan oleh bekas Setiausaha Agung Sekretariat ASEAN adalah contoh kejayaan pendekatan wasatiyyah yang diamalkan oleh Kerajaan Malaysia dalam menangani pelbagai isu dan konflik di rantau ini. Kita yakin amalan kesederhanaan yang diamalkan Malaysia menjadi contoh terbaik kepada negara Islam lain bagi menyelesaikan isu serantau. Kejayaan negara sebagai mediator dalam krisis selatan Filipina membuktikan Malaysia dihormati bukan saja dalam kalangan negara Islam, bahkan negara Barat.

Saya sendiri telah mengadakan lawatan kemanusiaan ke Negara Palestin bagi menunjukkan sokongan penuh kita terhadap perjuangan rakyat Palestin dalam menghadapi kekejaman rejim Zionis di Gaza dan kita percaya pembentukan kerajaan perpaduan di antara Hamas dan Fatah merupakan kunci kepada kejayaan perjuangan masyarakat Palestin. Malaysia bersedia membantu ke arah ini.  Hakikatnya dunia telah mengiktiraf Malaysia sebagai suara pendamai yang penting. Makanya, kita perlu mengekalkan negara kita sebagai kerajaan yang berwibawa dan dihormati pada peringkat antarabangsa.

Mengakhiri perutusan, marilah kita perbanyakkan selawat dan salam kepada baginda Rasullullah SAW sebagai tanda kasih dan sayang kita terhadap baginda. Sesungguhya Rasulullah SAW merupakan insan yang paling unggul dan hebat, maka kita juga perlu menjadi umat yang hebat. Saya mendoakan, agar sambutan Maulidur Rasul kali ini, benar-benar menggerakkan kita untuk berjuang mencapai hasanah di dunia dan di akhirat, sebagaimana yang dianjurkan oleh Rasulullah SAW. Insya-Allah.

Wabillahi Taufik wal Hidayah. Wassalamu ‘alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

As our friends signify the bountiful harvest by their tradition of boiling milk and rice, we are reminded of the rapid growth of our country’s transformation agenda that has brought much success and continued development for the benefit of all Malaysians.

Malaysia is a country full of opportunity and by strengthening unity as well as working hard together, all Malaysians will share in the country’s harvest as we progress towards becoming a developed and high-income nation by 2020.

Through a strong commitment and trust, or ‘nambikei’, between the Government and the Indian community, we have been able to bring much improvement and transformation to the community as a whole. As we march forward in this new year, I call upon the Indian community to stay united and focused in achieving the best outcomes through the various initiatives the Government is delivering for the community. With this unity and the continued ‘nambikei’ between us, I can assure you that we can do much more and reach out to every deserving Indian family, thereby ensuring that the progress of our nation is shared by all Malaysians alike.

With this hope, I wish all Malaysian Indians, ‘Ponggal Vaalthukal’ and a very happy ’Ponggal’. Let us all come together in the spirit of 1Malaysia to join our friends and celebrate this festival with renewed hope that this festival of new beginnings will bring Malaysia more progress and success.

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Good Morning and Salam Satu Malaysia.

Yang Berbahagia Tun Mohamed Dzaiddin Haji Abdullah;

Chairman, Bursa Malaysia

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohd Irwan Serigar bin Abdullah;

Secretary-General of the Treasury of the Ministry of Finance,

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Tajuddin Atan,

Chief Executive Officer, Bursa Malaysia,

Yang Berbahagia Dato’ Mat Noor bin Nawi;

Chairman, DanaInfra Nasional Berhad,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Ten years ago Malaysia issued the world’s first sovereign sukuk. Today, we see the initial tranche of RM1.5 billion for the first phase MRT Kajang-Sungai Buloh line, in which RM300 million is being allocated by DanaInfra Nasional Berhad for retail investors through the Exchange Traded Bonds and Sukuk (ETBS); the first to be open to the public.

2. We are here to commemorate yet another innovation in Islamic finance, and the opportunities it brings for investors. From today, those opportunities are open to more people than ever before; and Islamic bonds will be traded more widely than ever before. By opening up our economy, we are offering the rakyat a stake in our nation’s success. And we are making our capital stronger – and better connected.

3. These developments show how fast the world of Islamic finance is revolutionising; and how technology can catalyze that change. They also offer us a glimpse of Malaysia’s future.

4. In a time of rapid development, and in a region characterized by strong growth, we must maintain our focus. Malaysia must remain an open, outward-facing economy; a world-leader in strategic sectors, and a key player in a multi-trillion dollar regional market. We must show that economic growth need not come at the expense of financial stability; that development need not come into conflict with others.

5. That is the ambition we seek to realise over the months and years to come. It will not always be straightforward. To create the conditions for sustainable economic growth and future development requires courage and foresight. But if we deepen our commitment to economic and political reform, I believe it is within reach.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

6. For investors who have been buffeted by the financial crisis in Western markets, Islamic bonds offer an alternative growth model. No investment is without risk, and this relatively young market will still have the occasional growing pain. But by its very nature, Islamic finance is not prone to the same excesses which so damaged the world economy.

7. No wonder sukuk is the fastest growing financial instrument in the world. And no wonder that when investors seek knowledge or expertise, they look to Malaysia. For when it comes to Islamic finance, we have turned an early lead into a clear advantage.

8. Malaysia now accounts for three-quarters of the global sukuk market. We are a hub for issuing, trading, regulation, standards, marketing, and training. And we are one of the few places in the world to offer retail investors the chance to participate in this fast-growing, fast-changing market.

9. Our challenge now is to make sukuk part of the global investment mainstream.

10. To continue to be the leader in capital markets, we have to develop and maintain the market infrastructure, with firm support from regulators, issuers and investors. We need to continue to show leadership in training and compliance standards. And we also need to widen the investor base, which is what today’s launch is all about.

11. Our bond and sukuk market is mostly traded over-the-counter by institutional investors and high net worth individuals. In the past, access for retail investors was largely limited through bond unit trust funds and exchange traded funds.

12. Last year, in line with the Capital Market Masterplan 2, the Securities Commission launched a new framework to provide the retail public direct access to investments in bonds and sukuk. And to help incentivize the market, the government has proposed tax incentives for both issuers and investors.

13. Today the first tranche open to retail investors under the new scheme will be issued. And I am particularly pleased to be able to say that the funds raised will support the Kuala Lumpur Mass Rapid Transit project, a landmark commitment that will play a prominent part in Malaysia’s future success.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

14. Klang Valley’s population is expected to reach 10 million by 2020, pressures on its transport infrastructure will grow. Without the additional integrated public transport capacity provided by the MRT, LRT, KTM, monorail and bus system, the city will be choked with traffic, making it less liveable for rakyat. And it could also be an impediment to attracting investors to the country.

15. It is important to note that the main objective of the MRT is to ease the burden of the rakyat. This could be achieved through increasing the number of people using public transport, alleviating traffic congestion and reducing travel time from one place to another.

16. The project is expected to generate a further RM8 billion to RM12 billion GNI from spill-over effects. In total, an average of RM21 billion GNI per annum will be generated over the next 10 years, creating 130,000 jobs, as well as pushing up the value of property in the vicinity of MRT stations. Further, it will spur new property developments, boosting commerce and reduce carbon emissions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

17. According to the Economist Intelligence Unit 2012 report: Hotspots: Benchmarking Global City Competitiveness, which ranks 120 cities globally, Kuala Lumpur is the second most competitive global city in South East Asia.

18. To stay competitive, we need a public transport system that meets our needs, and allows us to realise the potential in this great city. That in turn will drive economic growth and development in the nation as a whole, helping us achieve our ambitions: to be a modern, high-income, developed nation.

19. So the bonds launched today represent an unprecedented opportunity for the people of Malaysia to invest in, and profit from, the nation’s development. For Muslims, they are a chance to share in the wealth of our nation in a way that is consistent with our beliefs; and, through our contribution, to help our country grow.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

20. Over the last twelve months, Malaysia has been fortunate to enjoy significant economic successes. In a year which saw slowdowns and stuttering growth elsewhere, our economy in the third quarter of 2012 grew at 5.2%, with much of this growth driven by domestic demand.

21. Three of the world’s top ten biggest IPOs took place here, pushing Bursa Malaysia into fourth place in the global league tables. Malaysian businesses have expanded aggressively overseas, announcing plans to develop London’s famous Battersea Power Station, and Petronas completing a $5.2 billion takeover of Canada’s Progress Energy.

22. Reforms made under the Economic Transformation Programme continue to pay off: last year, Malaysia became an easier place to do business, a safer destination for foreign capital, a more attractive place for retail investment. And with the launch of the Tun Razak Exchange in July, our nation’s growing financial reputation was given a physical identity.

23. These successes did not come from nowhere. It is the dedication and commitment of our businesses, entrepreneurs, civil servants and the rakyat. Many of you will have played a part in the projects which have contributed to Malaysia’s economic growth.

24. Nor is continued success assured. There remain challenges that we must address: the task of political and economic reform is not yet complete. But with such a sterling year behind us, our hopes for 2013 are high. So it gives me great pleasure to kick off the New Year with such good news from Bursa Malaysia!

Ladies and Gentlemen,

25. DanaInfra Nasional Berhad, or more affectionately known as “DanaInfra”, was established to facilitate the funding of large infrastructure projects by the Government. As the first project assigned to it, DanaInfra took on the task of funding the Sungai Buloh-Kajang or “SBK” line.

26. The creation of DanaInfra has enabled a move towards separating the fundraising activity from the project management activity, by assigning them to two separate entities, with possibly a further separation between actual asset ownership and day-to-day operations.

27. Under such a move, DanaInfra has become the maiden issuer of exchange traded bonds and sukuk, or ETBS, on Bursa Malaysia offered for the first time directly to the public.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

28. Today’s launch marks the culmination of many years of hard work. It is the next step in a journey that began more than a decade ago.

29. I would like to commend the efforts of the Ministry of Finance, Bank Negara Malaysia, Securities Commission Malaysia, Bursa Malaysia, DanaInfra Nasional Berhad. Your commitment has made today possible. I would also like to pay tribute to the four lead arrangers – AmInvestment, CIMB, Maybank and RHB – for creating this bold new asset class.

30. Together, you have made the Malaysian sukuk and bond market, already world-leading, even stronger. I believe this is a moment of special significance, not just for our financial sector, but for our nation as a whole.

31. With that, I am proud to officially launch the DanaInfra Nasional Berhad Exchange Traded Bonds and Sukuk. I wish you every success.

Thank you.

Wabillahitaufik Walhidayah Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh dan Salam 1Malaysia.

Tuan-Tuan dan Puan-Puan Rakyat Malaysia Sekalian,

1. Alhamdullilah, beberapa jam lagi kita akan menyambut tahun baru 2013. Sebagai rakyat Malaysia kita perlu bersyukur kerana kita akan menyambut tahun baru ini dengan berlatarbelakangkan pelbagai kejayaan dan pencapaian yang telah kita tempa dengan berkat usaha bersama di sepanjang Tahun 2012.

2. Tahun 2012 telah menyaksikan tamatnya fasa pertama Prakarsa Transformasi yang melibatkan lapangan Kerajaan, Ekonomi dan Politik. Kesan inisiatif ini amat positif. Di peringkat antarabangsa misalnya, angka tunjuk negara dalam pelbagai bidang telah meningkat secara yang membanggakan. Laporan Bank Dunia, “Doing Business 2013” misalnya, telah meletakkan Malaysia sebagai negara ke-12 paling mudah berurus niaga di dunia manakala laporan “World Competitiveness Yearbook 2012” telah menempatkan Malaysia sebagai negara ke-14 paling berdaya saing di dunia.

Rakyat Malaysia Yang DiKasihi,

3. Dalam menangani cabaran yang bakal mendatang untuk Tahun 2013, serta dalam rangka membina kejayaan yang berterusan, kita perlu mengambil iktibar dan pengajaran dari pengalaman yang lalu. Apa yang baik dan telah terbukti berjaya perlulah kita teruskan dan tambahbaik dengan segala kelemahan yang ada dibaiki. Sementara apa yang terbukti gagal patut ditamatkan dan diambil teladan daripadanya. Untuk meneruskan usaha bagi memastikan wawasan nasional Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara maju berpendapatan tinggi akan tercapai, kita perlu membina di atas asas yang telahpun diletakkan melalui lembayung Dasar Transformasi Nasional.

4. Bagi Tahun 2013, kita perlu meneruskan agenda nasional bagi mengukuhkan perpaduan Kebangsaan yang merupakan teras kelangsungan negara dengan berpandukan Falsafah 1Malaysia Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan.

5. Kedua, meneruskan usaha untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan rakyat dengan sistem jaringan keselamatan sosial di mana setiap rakyat Malaysia yang memerlukan bantuan akan memperolehnya, di mana bantuan kebajikan dan subsidi adalah disasarkan kepada yang benar-benar memerlukan dan diperkukuhkan lagi dengan jaringan kebajikan institusi keluarga, korporat dan keagamaan.

6. Ketiga, meningkatkan kemakmuran negara dengan memastikan pertumbuhan ekonomi yang mapan, kesihatan fiskal dan merangsang sistem pergerakan sosial yang bertunjangkan harapan, di mana pencapaian seseorang individu hanya dihadkan oleh daya imaginasi, daya keusahawanan dan sejauh mana kesanggupan individu berkenaan untuk bekerja keras, di mana kreativiti, inovasi dan kesanggupan mengambil risiko akan mendatangkan laba yang lumayan.

7. Keempat, untuk memastikan Malaysia akan menjadi tempat terbaik untuk membina sebuah kehidupan. Tempat terbaik untuk berkeluarga dan membesarkan anak-anak, sebuah negara yang mempunyai masyarakat penyayang, sistem keluarga yang kukuh, kejiranan dan jalan yang selamat dari jenayah, alam sekitar yang lestari, sekolah dan institusi pendidikan yang berkualiti serta sistem perkhidmatan kesihatan yang terbaik dan berkemampuan.
Rakyat Malaysia Yang DiHormati,

8. Saya yakin dan percaya bahawa fajar kejayaan akan sentiasa menyinari Malaysia dan kehidupan rakyatnya. InsyaAllah, dengan perancangan yang rapi serta teliti, dan pelaksanaan yang berkesan, hari ini akan lebih baik dari hari semalam dan hari esok akan menjanjikan kemungkinan yang berterusan.

9. Marilah kita tanyakan diri kita apakah yang mampu kita lakukan untuk menentukan apa yang kita dambakan, apa yang kita impikan mampu tercapai. Tidak ada istilah sumbangan kecil atau besar, yang ada hanyalah kesanggupan melakukan sesuatu. Negara memerlukan tuan-tuan dan puan-puan. Marilah bersama-sama saya untuk menjadikan impian kita ini suatu realiti. Berdirilah di sisi saya untuk kita bersama-sama menentukan kejayaan, bergeraklah dan bekerjalah bersama-sama saya untuk melakar sebuah masa depan yang terbaik, untuk negara dan anak-anak kita.

10. Saya dan Kerajaan hari ini tidak akan mampu mengkhidmati rakyat Malaysia dengan kadar yang terbaik tanpa sokongan dan dokongan padu tuan-tuan dan puan-puan sekelian. Berikanlah kami mandat yang jelas dan kami berjanji akan menggunakan kepercayaan tuan-tuan dan puan-puan itu dengan sebaik-baiknya bagi membina sebuah Malaysia untuk semua. Selama inipun, telah terbukti kami menepati segala janji dan komitmen yang diberi.

Rakyat Malaysia Sekalian,

11. Masa depan negara dan anak-anak kita adalah terlalu penting untuk dipertaruhkan mahupun untuk dijadikan bahan eksperimen. Membina sebuah negara yang berjaya memerlukan usaha yang berterusan dengan halatuju yang jelas. Meruntuhkan sebuah negara pula hanya memerlukan masa yang pendek namun kesannya berpanjangan. Di tangan kitalah terletak keputusan bagaimana masa depan negara hendak dicorakkan, ke mana Malaysia hendak di bawa. Bapa-bapa dan ibu-ibu pengasas negara telah mengemudi Malaysia ke mercu jaya dengan keringat, air mata dan darah. Hari ini tanggungjawab terletak pula di bahu kita. Sama ada Malaysia terus mara ke hadapan atau berundur.

12. Malaysia sesungguhnya ialah sebuah negara di mana peluang, tanggungjawab, kemakmuran dan nilai murni dikongsi bersama oleh warga yang majmuk, dipenuhi jutaan peluang di sebalik pelbagai kemungkinan yang terbentang. Kemungkinan itu suatu rahmat. Kemungkinan itu asas aspirasi. Saya menyeru untuk kita bersama-sama mencorakkan dalam merealisasikan destini Malaysia muncul sebagai sebuah kemungkinan yang terus menyinar.

13. Akhir kata, saya mendoakan agar Tahun 2013 ini menjanjikan kerahmatan kepada semua rakyat Malaysia.

Selamat Tahun Baru 2013.

Wabillahi Taufiq Walhidayah Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh, Salam Sejahtera dan Salam 1 Malaysia

YB. Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai,

Minister of Health Malaysia and wife

YBhg. Datuk Kamarul Zaman bin Mohd Isa,

Secretary General of the Ministry of Health Malaysia

YBrs. Dr SR Manalan,

President of the MMA

YBhg. Datuk Dr. Kuljit Singh,

Chairman of the Organising Committee Dinner and wife

Distinguished Officers of the Ministry of Health

Ladies and Gentleman,

1. First and foremost, I am indeed pleased and proud tonight to be in the company of men and women who have dedicated their lives to the service of others, who heal the sick, who brings the ray of hope and whose professional creed is to do no harm – members of the Malaysian Medical Association as well as members of the medical fraternity.

2. Since indipendence you have been an important partner in our nation building effort especially in providing Malaysians with a world class health care system that is affordable and accessible. However, there is still much work to be done to provide the health care quality worthy of a developed nation that we Malaysians aspire to be in 2020.

3. In realising our national vision of a Malaysia for our children that is full of hope, vigour and opportunities we must work together in unison. Every one of us must grab an oar and row together towards a better future. We have not done too badly in the preceding five decades. Our country is peaceful, prosperous and respected internationally. We are doing well despite the Eurozone crisis. We are still growing while others are struggling. As a nation, we have achieved so much. And I believe, with the present Government in the drivers seat returned to power with a stronger national mandate, we can achieve much more in the future. InsyaAllah….

Ladies and Gentlemen,

4. The Government is committed to bringing about meaningful improvement to the lives of the rakyat. We do not believe in change just for the sake of changing. What we want to achieve are real improvements that can be attained in terms of health status, health services, quality of life as well as the happiness and satisfaction of the rakyat.

5. The health sector transformation, i.e. improvement, is part of a bigger agenda to transform Malaysia into a high-income nation. Its aim is to ensure that all Malaysians will have access to an affordable, higher quality and more responsive health care system that is also sustainable for the long term.

6. In line with what I have stated oft times that the era of government knows best, that the government owns the monopoly on wisdom is over, the Ministry of Health is in the midst of a public engagement road show to seek feedback on the people’s experience with the current health care system and to obtain from them, ideas and suggestions on how to improve the present system. So far, the road show has covered 10 States.

7. Preliminary analysis indicates that the people are happy with the existing public sector health services, which is of high quality and affordable. However they have voiced their concerns about the long waiting times, insufficient staff, crowded facilities and problems with accessibility, particularly for the rural population and those living in the interior. People are also concerned about the high cost of private health care services. Importantly, they are expecting better quality and an expanded scope of services, that are easily available and affordable to them.

8. Based on this feedback, we know that we need address three important areas i.e. to first strengthen the public health system and indeed, we are doing it. We are building more facilities, providing better equipment, training more high quality human resources, credentialing our staff, implementing Quality Improvement and Risk Management systems. For example, we are increasing the number of our medical graduates from local as well as foreign institutions in order to improve our doctor-population ratio from 1:791 in 2011 to 1:400 by 2020.

9. We are also extending a moratorium on new medical schools in order for the existing ones to enhance their education programmes and train better quality graduates. This moratorium will end in May 2016. Secondly, we are increasingly emphasising on performance measurement and improvement with clinical and other performance indicator monitoring and improvement. Thirdly, we need to make the most of what we have of our present health care system i.e. develop synergies between the public and private sectors.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

10. As I am sure you are well aware, health which is the state of complete physical, mental and emotional well-being, and not merely the absence of disease, is determined by many factors outside of the domain of the health care system such as genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors. Through the Economic Transformation Programme and the implementation of the National Blue Ocean Strategies (NBOS), Malaysia is already addressing the social determinants of health, to further improve the quality of the environment in which our people live, work and play.

11. According to the WHO’s Global Status Report on Non-Communicable Diseases 2010, of the 57 million deaths that occurred throughout the world in 2008, 36 million – almost two thirds – were due to NCDs. NCDs comprise mainly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases and can impose large, avoidable costs in human, social and economic terms. In addition, about one quarter of global NCD-related deaths take place before the age of 60.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

12. The results of the National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2011 showed that an estimated 80% of patients with known diabetes and hypertension are regularly seeking treatment at the 985 public health clinics and 141 hospitals. NCDs, such as diabetes and hypertension, are by nature life-long diseases, requiring the active participation of those living with diabetes in order to achieve optimum control. It is not simply about prescribing medications but more importantly, empowering people living with these diseases to make positive changes in their lifestyle to proactively manage their health condition. Health care providers therefore play a major role in assisting patients achieve the required behavioural modification.

13. Hereby lies the major challenge for MOH; as the number of attendances of patients living with diabetes and hypertension continues to increase, our public healthcare providers have even less time to spend to educate and counsel these patients on behavioural modification. There is an estimated 6,589 private clinics and thus, it is envisaged that the private general practitioners can play an important part in improving the chronic disease management at the primary care level in Malaysia. It is on this point that I would like to propose a collaborative effort between the MOH and private general practitioners. Perhaps this initiative can be viewed as an example of another Blue Ocean Strategy effort.

14. I have been informed, and I am also pleased, that such an initiative is being actively developed as for implementation as a pilot project in Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur. It has been named the ”Outsourcing of Non-Communicable Disease Management to Private Practitioners – Diabetes Mellitus & Hypertension”.

15. I sincerely hope that our rakyat who have diabetes or hypertension, who will be followed-up by the private GPs, will receive better health education and counselling. The ability of these GPs to devote more time to properly counsel their patients is due in part, to the lower workloads of the participating private clinics. In return, these patients can achieve better control of their medical conditions, achieve treatment targets, which then would lead to lower rates of complications to their heart, kidneys, etc. As with any collaborative effort, there must be a spirit of contribution and compromise, and achieving a win-win situation by both parties to attain a common goal i.e. for the good health of the patients, who are after all, our rakyat. Thus, I look forward to the outcome of this pilot implementation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

16. The Government treasures its human capital and is walking the talk by amply rewarding them so that they can remain in service to take care of the health of the rakyat. We are in this for the long run. We, the Barisan Nasional Government have the rakyat interests at heart and we seek your role in helping us to pass on this wonderful legacy to our children and their children. Walk with me, aspire with me, work with me, members of the medical fraternity. Truly, as Helen keller once said, “Alone we can do so little, Together, we can do so much”. InsyaAllah…..

Thank you.

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

AT THE 8th WORLD ISLAMIC ECONOMIC FORUM (WIEF)

“CHANGING TRENDS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES”

ON 4TH DECEMBER 2012

PERSADA JOHOR INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE,

JOHOR BHARU

1. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 8th World Islamic Economic Forum. I must confess, the last time I spoke here in Johor, the audience were – how shall I put it – more dynamic. More energetic. More spirited. But you should not feel too bad: it was the opening of Asia’s first Legoland, so the average age was somewhat lower!

2. As we gather here today, the world faces numerous challenges. The global macroeconomic outlook continues to be weak and uncertain. Pockets of prosperity enjoyed by a few countries provide little positive impact on the economic growth of the rest.

3. The US economic recovery is still underway. With no solution to the Eurozone crisis in sight, and poor growth, EU member states are suffering extended austerity measures and threats of separatism. China and India are both experiencing an economic slowdown. Countries affected by the ‘Arab Spring’ or, as some prefer to call it, ‘Arab Awakening’, have yet to complete reform needed to meet the growing expectations of their people. And few bright economic sparks are visible in Africa and Latin America.

4. Amidst the global gloom, developing Muslim countries continue to bear a heavy burden. Many are at the receiving end of policy decisions, with little or no power to influence the global economic agenda. Within such societies, often it is young people who bear the brunt of this inequality. Even in more prosperous countries, evidence suggests young people feel they do not have control over their own economic future.

5. So today, I want to talk about youth and opportunity in Islamic economies. About the changes facing young Muslims across the world, and the hidden wealth of young nations. About the power of economic and political reform to give young people the opportunity they aspire to. And about the challenges we must confront to unlock the true potential of the Ummah.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

6. Throughout history, Islamic societies have managed major trade routes and vital trade centres. During the Golden Age, Muslim traders established the Islamic Empire and the Arabic language as the predominant forces in world trade. The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal empires were economic powerhouses. And over the last century, research shows Islam has been good for growth: witness Turkey’s rapid development, or Indonesia’s sustained expansion. If Islam was corrosive to growth, Malaysia’s economy would not have expanded on average (i.e. Compounded Annual Growth Rate) by 5.8% since 1991.

7. Islamic states are capable not just of economic dynamism, but financial innovation. From forward markets to microfinance, Islamic societies have long been at the cutting edge of capitalism. So, Islam is not a barrier to economic development.

8. Nor is it a barrier to vibrant democracy. As scholars haven noted, Islamic doctrine shows clear democratic thought – recognition of the equality of all believers, development of consultative rule, protection of private property, establishment of justice, celebration of learning, and tolerance of other faiths.

9. And yet, as we saw in the Arab Awakening, many young people cannot see opportunities for themselves. They do not feel they have control over their lives or a stake in their nations. Such pessimism can lead to disengagement, radicalism or emigration. While political freedom is important, it is economic opportunity that young people value most. We are losing some of our young people to apathy and extremism.

10. Our challenge, then, is to grasp the nature of opportunity. To understand what young people in Muslim societies aspire to, so we can help them achieve. To do so, we must understand the changes affecting their lives.

11. So what are these changes? The first is demographic. The Muslim world is experiencing a significant ‘youth bulge’: in 2010, 60% of Muslims were under 30. By 2030, Muslims will make up 26% of the world’s population, but 30% of its youth.

12. What are the implications of this shift? In economic terms, a younger population brings greater pressures to bear on education, and creates a bigger labour force. That in turn requires high investment and capital to utilise the spare capacity. Young people who cannot find work erode family spending power – and government finances.

13. Further down the line, a big demographic change can warp fiscal policy for decades, as ‘baby boomer’ countries are discovering. But in social terms, the short term impact can be even greater. A youth bulge introduces latent energy into a nation’s economy and society. If it is not tapped, it can become a destabilising force.

14. Work brings fulfilment: the feeling of playing an active part in society, and contributing to the community. It also develops the personal skills, self-esteem and discipline that are requisites for success in a competitive world. But with time on their hands and no prospects for employment, a generation of people is growing up without knowing that fulfilment or those skills. In 2010, youth unemployment in the Middle East was 25%; in North Africa, 24%. Unemployment at such levels is toxic. When young people lack opportunity, they grow restless and disenfranchised.

15. Often, sadly, it is more educated youth who miss out. The longer they are unemployed, the harder it is to find work. Careers are blunted as people take low-paid jobs: young people are most likely to be part of the working poor. Many put off starting a family; without a decent job, they cannot marry. And so they remain frustrated – unable to fully transition to adulthood, and denied their independence.

16. Dependency robs these young people of their dignity. With no economic stake in society, they can lose their sense of belonging. That can spill over into hostility to the state, and the institutions that sustain it. From 1970 to 2000, eight out of ten of countries experiencing new civil conflict had populations where 60% were under 30 – just as the Muslim world does today.

17. Muslim youth want economic opportunity. Our response must be to commit to building open and sustainable economies, with education and economic reform that allows our young people to pursue their ambitions. But to understand how those ambitions are framed, we must also understand the second great change in young people’s lives: technology.

18. 21 years ago, there were no websites. Today, there are more than half a billion. In the space of one lifetime, the internet has gone from a tiny scientific community into one of the most potent development tools the world has ever known. The internet revolution has changed the way we think about knowledge, opening up opportunities that previously seemed inconceivable.

19. The age of information has its own generation: the digital natives, those who have only ever known a connected world. There are children leaving school now who do not remember life before the internet. The expectations they have – of access to information, and freedom to communicate – are completely different. They do not understand closed systems, or one-way Government. They expect information to be free, democracy to be responsive and communication to be global. They want to play an active role in the digital economy. And if they are not satisfied, they will tell the world in a heartbeat.

20. Great leaps in communication technology often foreshadow democratic developments. So it has proved with mobile internet and social media. Empowered by technology and emboldened by example, young people are able to compare the strengths and weaknesses of their democracies, and articulate their political needs to a global audience. Modern youth, and modern aspiration, is borderless.

21. This technological shift has implications for the economic sphere in which Muslim youth operate. But its political implications are greater still. We must understand and respond to the emergence of a new, cross-border political consciousness.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

22. These two forces – demography and technology – determine the nature of opportunity for our youth. Socially and economically, young people in Islamic societies want freedom. But it is not the freedom my father’s generation fought for – freedom from colonial oppression. In an age of self-determination and development, they want freedom of opportunity.

23. They want a world-class education, and the freedom to pursue the options it brings. They want to be active participants in new digital spaces. They want strong democratic institutions, and open and accountable government. And they want to play their part in civil society, to build a better nation with their own hands.

24. Our challenge is to stretch ourselves to deliver those freedoms without sacrificing tradition, stability or growth. By responding to the changes they face, we can engage Muslim youth with a clear vision of their future – and harness their untapped potential, for the benefit of all. That will require both leadership and reform.

25. First, we must focus on education. Although access is improving, young people find that their qualifications do not match the opportunities available in the job market. We need a greater emphasis on vocational and technical training, and on standards and outcomes, to ensure that learning unlocks opportunity rather than closing it off.

26. We must also continue to open up our economies. Each country in the Muslim world faces its own strengths and challenges; but as a general principle, we must build a more dynamic private sector, and boost our share of world trade. 23% of the world’s population are Muslim, but OIC nations conduct just 8.3% of global trade. We have the headroom; we have the capacity; it is simply a matter of opening our economies. In so doing, we can make our nations more competitive, bringing higher value jobs, and stronger growth.

27. We should pursue structural reforms, to ensure that our economies can compete in the industries of the future. Here the youth are our guide: surveys show that Muslim youth identify the digital economy and green technology as significant in-demand sectors where they ought to have a natural advantage.

28. We must also respond to technological change: recalibrating the way we think about government, and the way we communicate with young people. Our starting point must be recognition of the fundamental principle of the internet: its autonomy. The internet thrives because it exists outside of the control of any one state or authority. It should remain that way. This does not mean unregulated behaviour, but independence. We should preserve the online space as one in which the free exchange of views is encouraged, in the best traditions of discourse.

29. We should open our minds to new opportunities in the digital economy. As microfinance and mobile banking has shown, the ability to manage money on the move helps young people gain financial independence and start businesses. We should do more of our business and banking online, and support our digital entrepreneurs.

30. We must also encourage moderation and the practice of tolerance. Polls show that young Muslims want a greater role for religion in public and political life. We should show that this trust is well deserved, by offering a vision of Islam that is moderate and tolerant. And we should embrace the new instruments of Islamic finance – although here I must declare an interest, because Malaysia leads the world in the issuing of sukuk bonds!

31. Finally, we must be prepared to invest in all of our young people – including women, whose unemployment numbers are consistently 10% higher than men. We must put our confidence in Muslim youth as full economic participants: as consumers, employees, and entrepreneurs. And we must be unafraid to encourage change in institutions which stifle young people’s opportunities: reforming public services, supporting appointment by merit, and remaining ever vigilant against corruption.

32. Together, these changes will help us capitalise on our greatest resource: our youth. It is up to us to show leadership, and build economies that are prepared for the future. We must be willing to confront old assumptions and embrace new technologies; to open up our economies and reform our politics. This will not always be easy. There will be challenges and uncertainties. But reform is necessary, and history shows us it is right: the periods of greatest Islamic influence were the most intellectually open.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

33. As a developing country committed to economic reform, Malaysia has faced some hard choices already. We know we must improve public service delivery, and offer new opportunities to meet the growing expectations of our people. This World Islamic Economic Forum will explore these issues. The focus on nurturing the potential of our young entrepreneurs and business leaders is commendable, and I am the sessions on the democratization of education and the role of technology will be fascinating. So me leave you with one thought.

34. I believe we should see our youth not as a liability, but as an asset: an untapped resource that will allow us to develop and modernise. Managed properly, this resource can lay the foundations for great success. By focusing on economic and political reform, we can present a compelling vision of a future defined by opportunity, not dependency.

35. In so doing, I am sure that we can bring young people into the fold; giving them a meaningful stake in society. That is not only a powerful safeguard against disenfranchisement and extremism. It is our responsibility to the greatest Muslim generation that has ever lived.

Thank you.

Assalamu ‘alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh

Salam Sejahtera dan Salam 1Malaysia,

Saudara dan saudari sekalian

1. Bersyukur kita ke hadrat Allah S.W.T kerana dengan limpah dan kurniaNya maka dapatlah kita menyambut  Maal Hijrah 1434H bersamaan 2012M pada tahun ini melalui kesederhanaan dan kesejahteraan rakyat. Ia bertepatan dengan tema Maal Hijrah pada kali ini iaitu ‘Wasatiyyah Tonggak Kesatuan Ummah’.
2. Syariat Islam secara fitrahnya jika diamalkan akan menyatukan ummah dilihat dari kesatuan dan kepimpinan yang mampu menghilangkan sempadan kaum, bahasa dan warna kulit. Kita telah menjana satu fikrah berkenaan tonggak kesatuan dan perpaduan melalui pendekatan wasatiyyah. Ia telah digarapkan dalam segenap perkara di dalam pelaksanaan pembangunan spiritual dan fizikal secara seimbang bagi mempertingkatkan nilai kualiti kebersamaan dalam kemajmukan yang menjadi pemangkin kepada perpaduan ummah secara keseluruhannya.
3. Sesungguhnya melalui pendekatan wasatiyyah, keutuhan perpaduan dan persaudaraan sesama kaum dan agama dapat ditingkatkan.Kita juga telah mengamalkan konsep kesederhanaan ini dan telah mengenengahkannya dalam menyelesaikan sesuatu konflik dalam dan luar negara. Baru-baru ini Kerajaan Malaysia bertindak sebagai pengantara melalui pendekatan kesederhanaan sehingga berjaya menyelesaikan krisis 40 tahun antara Barisan Pembebasan Moro dan Kerajaan Filipina. Kita juga telah mengambil pendekatan serupa dalam isu keganasan etnik dan agama di negeri Rakhine, Barat Myanmar dengan menekankan soal kemanusiaan dengan memberi bantuan kepada mangsa keganasan di Rakhine tanpa mengira latar belakang dan agama mereka.
4. Berpegang dengan definisi hijrah yang memberi maksud perpindahan atau perubahan daripada satu keadaan kepada keadaan yang lebih baik, kita telah mengislah dan menterjemahkan pendekatan hijrah dalam  program transformasi negara. Hasilnya, Malaysia kini menjadi antara negara yang sering mendapat pengiktirafan dan pujian negara luar sebagai sebuah negara Islam yang dinamik dan progresif. Baru-baru ini ulama terkemuka dunia iaitu Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi telah memberi pengiktirafan dan pujian kepada Malaysia di atas komitmen jitu negara dalam membantu dan menyokong rakyat Palestin yang ditindas oleh rejim Zionis di bumi Ghaza.
5. Berhijrah adalah sebahagian daripada melaksanakan misi ketakwaan. Ianya adalah satu perintah yang perlu dilakukan sepanjang masa. Kita mestilah sentiasa berhijrah setiap masa bagi mengharapkan kehidupan lebih baik di dunia dan akhirat. Kita mesti sentiasa berusaha melakukan yang lebih baik dan mengharap rahmat Allah. Konsep hubungan hijrah dan kejayaan mendapat rahmat Allah disebut dalam Surah Al-Baqarah ayat 218 yang bermaksud : “Sesungguhnya orang yang beriman dan berhijrah serta berjihad di jalan Allah (fisabilillah), mereka itulah yang boleh mengharap (mendapat) rahmat dari-Nya.”
6. Mengakhiri perutusan, saya dan keluarga mengucapkan selamat menyambut Maal Hijrah 1434 kepada semua seluruh umat Islam Malaysia walau di mana jua berada dan raikanlah sambutan ini bersama rakan-rakan kita daripada pelbagai bangsa demi menjayakan “Wasatiyyah Tonggak Kesatuan Ummah”.

Wabillahit-Taufiik wal-Hidayah, wassalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakaatuh.

Perayaan Deepavali yang melambangkan kejayaan cahaya ke atas kegelapan sesungguhnya mencerminkan perjalanan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara berbilang kaum sejak 55 tahun yang lalu. Perjalanan kita dari zaman kemerdekaan kepada salah sebuah negara membangun utama di dunia dan dalam landasan betul ke arah mencapai status negara maju berpendapatan tinggi menjelang tahun 2020 telah melihat kita mengatasi pelbagai halangan untuk mencapai objektif kita. Nenek moyang kita, serta generasi yang berikutnya telah bekerjasama sebagai satu pasukan untuk memerangi kegelapan dan cabaran yang menyelubungi negara kita supaya semua rakyat Malaysia dapat menikmati kehidupan yang lebih baik.

Sepanjang perjalanan ini, masyarakat India telah memainkan peranan penting yang sentiasa disanjung dan dihargai oleh semua rakyat Malaysia. Pada kesempatan sempena sambutan Deepavali tahun ini, saya mengambil peluang untuk merakamkan ucapan penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada masyarakat India di atas segala sumbangan mereka yang tidak berbelah bahagi ke arah membangunkan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara yang selamat, aman dan makmur.

Walaupun masyarakat India telah terlibat sepenuhnya dalam pembangunan Malaysia sejak kemerdekaan, mereka juga telah berdepan dengan pelbagai cabaran, terutamanya ketika berpindah dan menyesuaikan diri kepada kehidupan di bandar-bandar di Malaysia. Saya sedar akan masalah-masalah tersebut dan inilah sebabnya Kerajaan melaksanakan langkah-langkah yang khusus untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat India. Sejak tiga setengah tahun ini, kita telah mengambil pelbagai pendekatan yang baru dan inovatif untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah legasi di kalangan komuniti India. Ini telah menunjukkan hasil yang nyata dan positif kepada keluarga-keluarga masyarakat India di serata negara. Kerajaan telah memberi tumpuan kepada cabaran-cabaran utama yang dihadapi dalam pelbagai sektor yang melibatkan komuniti India. Kita sentiasa konsisten dalam menepati janji-janji realistik dan bertanggungjawab yang telah kita buat kepada masyarakat India kerana Kerajaan tidak percaya dengan pendekatan di mana yang kita janji bukan-bukan semata-mata untuk mendapat kuasa dan populariti.

Segala inisiatif dan usaha Kerajaan untuk meningkatkan taraf kehidupan komuniti India tidak akan berjaya tanpa kepercayaan atau “nambikei” di antara Kerajaan dan rakyat. Melalui kerjasama ini yang berpaksikan persefahaman dan usaha yang gigih, kita telah bersama-sama membawa cahaya harapan kepada ramai individu dan keluarga supaya mereka mendapat kehidupan yang lebih baik dan bahagia.

“Nambikei” yang berterusan di antara Kerajaan dan masyarakat India akan membolehkan Kerajaan untuk terus membawa pembangunan dan kemajuan. Ini adalah terutamanya melalui inisiatif-inisiatif khusus yang akan memastikan bantuan dan perkhidmatan Kerajaan sampai terus kepada setiap individu masyarakat India yang memerlukannya agar mereka dapat berdiri di atas kaki sendiri. Untuk merealisasikan hasrat kita untuk komuniti India, kita perlu sedar bahawa kita masih mempunyai banyak lagi usaha yang perlu kita lakukan bersama-sama. Saya tidak boleh mengerakkan semua ini bersendirian. Hanya dengan sokongan dan kepercayaan masyarakat India, dan semua masyarakat Malaysia yang lain, boleh kita menjadikan perjalanan transformasi ini sesuatu yang bermakna dan berjaya.

Pada ketika pelbagai usaha transformasi negara mula membuahkan hasil dengan pertumbuhan dan pembangunan negara yang pesat, kita akan memastikan bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia, termasuk daripada masyarakat India, akan dapat meningkatkan pendapatan, dan lebih penting lagi, akan meningkatkan lagi kualiti hidup untuk generasi masa kini serta generasi akan datang. Komitmen ini adalah selaras dengan semangat 1Malaysia di mana tidak ada sesiapa pun di bawah langit Malaysia yang akan ketinggalan dalam arus pembangunan dan kemajuan negara. Bersempena Deepavali tahun ini, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memberi kepastian kepada masyarakat kaum India di Malaysia bahawa Kerajaan akan menunaikan sepenuhnya harapan dan kepercayaan anda terhadap Kerajaan untuk bersama-sama dengan anda dalam perjalanan ini dan merealisasikan impian dan harapan setiap individu. Saya benar-benar percaya zaman kegemilangan Malaysia masih di hadapan kita dan untuk mengecapi nikmat kemajuan dan kemakmuran tersebut, kita semua mesti bersatu padu di bawah satu visi ke arah melahirkan negara yang adil, saksama dan berjaya.

Akhir kata, saya ingin mengajak rakyat Malaysia sekalian untuk bersama-sama mengucapkan “Deepavali Vaalthukal” dan Selamat Hari Deepavali kepada rakyat Malaysia beragama Hindu. Marilah kita meneruskan tradisi Malaysia yang unik dengan merayakan perayaan pesta cahaya yang bermakna ini bersama-sama dengan saudara dan saudari kita daripada masyarakat Hindu.

Selamat Hari Deepavali.

Perayaan Deepavali yang melambangkan kejayaan cahaya ke atas kegelapan sesungguhnya mencerminkan perjalanan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara berbilang kaum sejak 55 tahun yang lalu. Perjalanan kita dari zaman kemerdekaan kepada salah sebuah negara membangun utama di dunia dan dalam landasan betul ke arah mencapai status negara maju berpendapatan tinggi menjelang tahun 2020 telah melihat kita mengatasi pelbagai halangan untuk mencapai objektif kita. Nenek moyang kita, serta generasi yang berikutnya telah bekerjasama sebagai satu pasukan untuk memerangi kegelapan dan cabaran yang menyelubungi negara kita supaya semua rakyat Malaysia dapat menikmati kehidupan yang lebih baik.

Sepanjang perjalanan ini, masyarakat India telah memainkan peranan penting yang sentiasa disanjung dan dihargai oleh semua rakyat Malaysia. Pada kesempatan sempena sambutan Deepavali tahun ini, saya mengambil peluang untuk merakamkan ucapan penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada masyarakat India di atas segala sumbangan mereka yang tidak berbelah bahagi ke arah membangunkan Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara yang selamat, aman dan makmur.

Walaupun masyarakat India telah terlibat sepenuhnya dalam pembangunan Malaysia sejak kemerdekaan, mereka juga telah berdepan dengan pelbagai cabaran, terutamanya ketika berpindah dan menyesuaikan diri kepada kehidupan di bandar-bandar di Malaysia. Saya sedar akan masalah-masalah tersebut dan inilah sebabnya Kerajaan melaksanakan langkah-langkah yang khusus untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah yang dihadapi oleh masyarakat India. Sejak tiga setengah tahun ini, kita telah mengambil pelbagai pendekatan yang baru dan inovatif untuk menyelesaikan masalah-masalah legasi di kalangan komuniti India. Ini telah menunjukkan hasil yang nyata dan positif kepada keluarga-keluarga masyarakat India di serata negara. Kerajaan telah memberi tumpuan kepada cabaran-cabaran utama yang dihadapi dalam pelbagai sektor yang melibatkan komuniti India. Kita sentiasa konsisten dalam menepati janji-janji realistik dan bertanggungjawab yang telah kita buat kepada masyarakat India kerana Kerajaan tidak percaya dengan pendekatan di mana yang kita janji bukan-bukan semata-mata untuk mendapat kuasa dan populariti.

Segala inisiatif dan usaha Kerajaan untuk meningkatkan taraf kehidupan komuniti India tidak akan berjaya tanpa kepercayaan atau “nambikei” di antara Kerajaan dan rakyat. Melalui kerjasama ini yang berpaksikan persefahaman dan usaha yang gigih, kita telah bersama-sama membawa cahaya harapan kepada ramai individu dan keluarga supaya mereka mendapat kehidupan yang lebih baik dan bahagia.

“Nambikei” yang berterusan di antara Kerajaan dan masyarakat India akan membolehkan Kerajaan untuk terus membawa pembangunan dan kemajuan. Ini adalah terutamanya melalui inisiatif-inisiatif khusus yang akan memastikan bantuan dan perkhidmatan Kerajaan sampai terus kepada setiap individu masyarakat India yang memerlukannya agar mereka dapat berdiri di atas kaki sendiri. Untuk merealisasikan hasrat kita untuk komuniti India, kita perlu sedar bahawa kita masih mempunyai banyak lagi usaha yang perlu kita lakukan bersama-sama. Saya tidak boleh mengerakkan semua ini bersendirian. Hanya dengan sokongan dan kepercayaan masyarakat India, dan semua masyarakat Malaysia yang lain, boleh kita menjadikan perjalanan transformasi ini sesuatu yang bermakna dan berjaya.

Pada ketika pelbagai usaha transformasi negara mula membuahkan hasil dengan pertumbuhan dan pembangunan negara yang pesat, kita akan memastikan bahawa semua rakyat Malaysia, termasuk daripada masyarakat India, akan dapat meningkatkan pendapatan, dan lebih penting lagi, akan meningkatkan lagi kualiti hidup untuk generasi masa kini serta generasi akan datang. Komitmen ini adalah selaras dengan semangat 1Malaysia di mana tidak ada sesiapa pun di bawah langit Malaysia yang akan ketinggalan dalam arus pembangunan dan kemajuan negara. Bersempena Deepavali tahun ini, saya mengambil kesempatan ini untuk memberi kepastian kepada masyarakat kaum India di Malaysia bahawa Kerajaan akan menunaikan sepenuhnya harapan dan kepercayaan anda terhadap Kerajaan untuk bersama-sama dengan anda dalam perjalanan ini dan merealisasikan impian dan harapan setiap individu. Saya benar-benar percaya zaman kegemilangan Malaysia masih di hadapan kita dan untuk mengecapi nikmat kemajuan dan kemakmuran tersebut, kita semua mesti bersatu padu di bawah satu visi ke arah melahirkan negara yang adil, saksama dan berjaya.

Akhir kata, saya ingin mengajak rakyat Malaysia sekalian untuk bersama-sama mengucapkan “Deepavali Vaalthukal” dan Selamat Hari Deepavali kepada rakyat Malaysia beragama Hindu. Marilah kita meneruskan tradisi Malaysia yang unik dengan merayakan perayaan pesta cahaya yang bermakna ini bersama-sama dengan saudara dan saudari kita daripada masyarakat Hindu.

Selamat Hari Deepavali.