MELAKA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the 1Malaysia concept is a vision needed by the people because it protected the rights of all races in country as enshrined in the Constitution and the Rukun Negara (national philosophy) and is able to bring the country forward.
Taking a dig at the opposition who he said were "now singing a different song with their so called Middle Malaysia vision" from their earlier Malaysian Malaysia slogan, Najib said it was the 1Malaysia vision that was truly needed and not others and that it (1Malaysia) had been accepted by most Malaysians.
Speaking before a crowd of some 51,000 people of Melaka who flooded Pantai Klebang here Thursday night for the "1Malaysia With the People of Melaka" programme, Najib said 1Malaysia did not stray a single inch from constitutional provisions or the Rukun Negara.
"Let's not question the rights of the Malays. Do not question the citizenship rights of non-Malays, they have become citizens of our country. They are loyal citizens, our country will continue to progress and become more successful," he said.
Najib said when 1Malaysia was mentioned, it gave a picture that under the concept, there was a renewed spirit among the people to bring the country to greater heights.
Najib also invited the people to "berhijrah" (make a shift) from adopting an attitude of tolerance to one of acceptance.
He said tolerance carried a connotation that people were not really comfortable with each other whereas acceptance meant Malaysians took pride in their diversity, which was a source of strength.
In terms of history, Najib said Melaka was a prime example of the give-and -take attitude in a culture of diversity.
This was because hundreds of years ago it was an important melting pot for trade whereby traders from all over the world came, leading to multicultural diversity becoming a way of life, he said.
"This diversity is a uniqueness which in turn has been translated into our strength," he said.
On Melaka, Najib said it had good leaders like Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam who was constanly working to create projects and bring about development for the benefit of the people of the state.
He said he would consider appropriate projects for the state like expanding the beautification zone for Sungai Melaka, widening the road to Pantai Klebang and improving the local bus service system.
"The BN (Barisan Nasional) is not a party that plays politics, I want the BN to always look into the welfare of the people. This goverment will not waver in this," he said.
He said he was also deeply touched by the warm welcome given to him during his one-day visit to the state today and the overwhelming response to tonight's progamme at Klebang beach and that he intended to come again whereby he would announce allocations for development projects.
At the function, Najib also launched Dataran 1Malaysia which is the site the 1Malaysia programme was held and also launched the Impian 1Malaysia (1Malaysia Dream) postcard.
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