Najib: Malaysians should be more resilient and determined

Malaysians have been urged to be more diligent and work hard to cushion themselves against the impact of the global economic crisis – and adopt the ox’s main qualities like resilience and determination.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said that with the Chinese ushering in the Year of the Ox, it was only fitting that everyone should practise these good qualities.

“I would like to wish a Happy New Year to the Chinese community in Malaysia and they will be celebrating the Year of the Ox, which according to their belief, symbolises diligence and hard work” he told reporters yesterday.

“I would say that this is the right time for us to emphasise such qualities as we are facing a lot of uncertainties in the global economy.

“We have to brace ourselves for the situation,” Najib said after presenting school uniforms, bags and stationery to 2,000 pupils from schools in the Pekan parliamentary constituency.

The items, worth about RM300,000, were contributed by the Amanah Raya Berhad.

Najib said the country expected to register lower economic growth this year and that Malaysians must persevere.

He added that together with the right policies formulated by the Government, Malaysia could get out of the global financial crisis and regain sound growth.

To a question, Najib said both fiscal and monetary measures had been taken including the recent announcement by Bank Negara on the setting up of a RM2bil SME Assistance Guarantee Scheme.

He said these were major announcements, including the credit guarantee scheme, where small and medium enterprises hit by the economic crisis could still get loans without having to put up collateral.

“This is a very significant development because there will be more economic activities and there will not be massive reduction in employment,” Najib said.

To another question, he said it was better for the Government to take progressive steps to stimulate growth now because one did not know the type of global problems that would occur in the future.

“Our assessment is that a second package is necessary, so once we have made the assessment, we will formulate a fiscal package,” he added.

Najib, who asked the public for their feedback, said they could contribute their ideas through his website at www.1malaysia.com.my or e-mail to najib@1malaysia.com.my