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Wednesday, 20 March 2013

Transformation Policy Has Succeeded In Ensuring Every Malaysian Feel The Progress, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, March 19 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tonight tabled an impressive "report card" from the implementation of the ambitious national transformation programme which has benefited Malaysians from all strata of society.

He said the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and the Economic Transformation Programme which support Malaysia's vision to emerge as a high-income advanced nation in its own mould is the prime goal and not merely economic indicators.

"I believe the people not only can see, hear and evaluate what has been implemented, but also feel the impact," he said when launching the National Transformation Progamme Annual Report Tuesday night.

"I would like to report to the people that with the cooperation and the hardwork of all parties, be they the masses, the private sector, civil servants and members of the administration, the bulk of the planned objectives have been achieved," he said.

The Prime Minister said the ETP and GTP were "very bold experiments" ever implemented by any government in the world in practising the principles of transparency and accountability besides proving the government's commitment to the 1Malaysia philosophy -- People First, Performance Now.

"In this respect, the country's success can be seen through the higher per capita gross domestic product (GDP) from US$257 in 1957 to US$9,970 last year.

"This is nearly 4,000 per cent increase in more than five decades," said Najib, who is also Finance Minister.

Najib said the higher quality of life was clearly evident from the Household Income Survey figures.

The survey showed that average monthly household income in Malaysia has increased from RM4,025 in 2009 to RM5,000 last year.

"This showed a more than 1,200 per cent increase since the survey was conducted since 1974," he said.

Najib said the initiatives implemented under the GTP have succeeded in providing a better quality of life to low-income earners.

Among the initiatives are RM2.34 billion 1Malaysa People's Aid (BRIM) to more than six million people and RM524 million for 5.24 million students.

In efforts to uplift the people's standard of living, a total of 106,967 people were roped into the "Azam Kerja", "Azam Niaga", "Azam Khidmat" and "Azam Tani" programmes besides extending micro financing through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia, Tekun Nasional and Yayasan Usaha Maju, he said.

To improve students' academic achievements, the pre-school enrolment has been increased to nearly 770,000 last year or 80 per cent of the age group, the prime minister said.

The GTP, the brainchild of Najib, was implemented under the purview of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) in the Prime Minister's Department.

There are seven National Key Result Areas under the GTP. They are to reduce crime, eradicate corruption, improve education quality, upgrade rural development and improve urban public transport and the living standard of low-income earners and to tackle cost of living.

The launch of the ETP, also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and cabinet ministers, was televised live by RTM.

On the ETP achievement, Najib said private investments grew by more than three fold, recording a 22 per cent increase last year.

The ETP was launched in late 2010.

In line with the ETP objectives and with the private sector playing the pivotal role in driving the nation's economy, the private sector investment ratio had registered a consistent increase, he said.

"In 2009, total private investment, which was at 52 per cent, rose to 58 per cent last year," he said.

Najib said this proved the private sector's growing confidence in the national transformation initiatives, with the private sector investment value surpassing the target by RM139.5 billion, driven by high capital expenditure in the manufacturing, services and mining sectors.

"Private sector investment is important as it influences the economic growth rate. Bigger private sector investment growth coupled with the higher economic growth will generate national revenue which will emable the government to implement more initiatives for the people's benefit," he said.

Najib also said nearly 50 foreign tourists visited Malaysia in 2011 and 2012, contributing close to RM100 billion to the GDP, while in the Greater Kuala Lumpur development, My Rapid Transit has disbursed 48 contract packages totalling RM19.8 billion.

He said 45 per cent or RM8.9 billion worth of the contracts or the bulk of the contracts have been awarded to Bumiputera contractors.

In the oil and gas sector, the RAPID project in Pengerang, Johor, will create business opportunities to 4,000 people and construction work to 20,000 people, he added.

Najib also said 1,087 sundry shop owners have participated in the TUKAR programme, with average sales increasing by 30 pe cent.

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