PM: Put aside political differences, focus on economy

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has urged the people to forget all political differences and instead concentrate efforts towards strengthening the economy.

With the world economy in a crisis now, all Malaysians must work together to ensure the country’s economy remains on track, he said on Saturday.

He said the government was committed and doing all it could to improve the economy so as to ensure the people were not badly affected by the current economic situation.

“Forget any political difference ... our focus now is to together overcome the economic situation. The government is prepared to spend, introduce economic stimulus packages, undertake various campaigns to encourage people to support local products. This the path we must take,” he said at the national-level Chinese New Year open house here on Saturday.

Also present were his wife Datin Seri Jeanne Abdullah, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, MCA president and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Gerakan president Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon, MIC deputy president Datuk S.Subramaniam and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili.

At the same time, the Prime Minister also said the government would do its best to prevent job losses and introduce economic action plans for the benefit of the people.

However, he said, the people should have confidence and cooperate with the government in facing the current economic challenges just as they did before, when the nation was faced with various political and economic crises.

The government, he said, had the experience to weather similar challenges and the people should keep faith with it to bring the nation out of the current economic gloom.

Some 5,000 guests attended the celebration which also featured cultural performances of the various races in the country.

At the function, the Prime Minister also presented aid to 10 selected welfare and charity homes. – Bernama