PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS ON ASSUMING OFFICE AS 6TH PRIME MINISTER

By : DATO' SRI MOHD NAJIB BIN TUN HAJI ABDUL RAZAK, PERDANA MENTERI
MALAYSIA
Venue : Prime Minister's Office
Date : 03/04/2009
Title : PRIME MINISTER'S ADDRESS ON ASSUMING OFFICE AS 6TH PRIME MINISTER
OF MALAYSIA
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim
Assalammualaikum Dan Salam Sejahtera
1. On behalf of all Malaysians, I would like to thank YABhg. Tun Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi for his 31 years of exemplary public service to our country, his commitment to
strengthening the institutions and fabric of our democracy and for his graceful
example as our leader.
2. I am grateful to YABhg. Tun for his confidence in proposing my name as Prime
Minister to Duli Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong, and I
am honoured that His Majesty has consented to my appointment with this morning’s
swearing-in ceremony. I feel a deep sense of humility at the opportunity to serve as
your Prime Minister at an important time in our nation's history.
My life has been dedicated to public service.
Growing up, I was inspired by the positive impact of public service in the example of
my late father. Four decades on, I remain committed to the goals of tackling poverty;
of restructuring our society; of expanding access to quality education for all; and of
inspiring a new generation of young Malaysians to work on behalf of this great
country.
My own service in government has always been about getting results: to ensure a
better deal for teachers, to improve conditions for our brave soldiers, and to
strengthen our economy in defence of the people of Malaysia, as we deal with the
outbreak of a global recession.
3. In the coming weeks, I will be consulting with people around our country, as I
begin to reshape the leadership and priorities of the Government. I am mindful that
we should build on the successes and lessons of the past. It must be a government
with new approaches for new times – a government that places a priority on
performance, because the people must come first.
4. We must reach out to all parts of Malaysia…to all our diverse communities. In our
national discourse and in pursuing our national agenda, we must never leave anyone
behind. We must reach out to the many who may have been disaffected and left
confused by political games, deceit and showmanship.
We must draw on talented people across our nation, regardless of their position or
background, to re-energize a passion for public service. We must sow the seeds of
goodwill and understanding in every corner of this land, so that we continue to
harvest the fruits of progress and prosperity for all Malaysians.
We must seek to include and unlock the potential of our young people who will be
the next generation of leaders, businesspeople, engineers, scientists, teachers and
doctors. We must give them wings to fly.
5. And so today, I pledge that I will work tirelessly to serve all of you.
6. In this spirit, I would like to announce that the government has decided with
immediate effect, to remove the temporary ban on TWO news publications, release
13 detainees from ISA detention, and conduct a comprehensive review of the Internal
Security Act. Additional details will be announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs
shortly.
7. These decisions are timely as we move to enhance the confidence of our citizens in
those entrusted with maintaining peace, law and order, while recognizing the need
to remain vigilant of the very real security threats we continue to face as a young
nation.
8. I know that for every citizen, these are hard times and I remain focused in
providing strong leadership to lead us out of this economic crisis and unleash our full
potential as a nation. I will be steadfast in my commitment to meet the needs,
aspirations and concerns of all Malaysians.
9. So today I ask you to join me in this task of renewing Malaysia. I urge us to rise to
the challenge of building a One Malaysia. People First. Performance Now.
10. Let us begin this great journey together.
Wabillah hitaufik Walhidayah Wassalammualaikum Warah Matullahiwabarokatuh