KL commends Beijing over South China Sea

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Malaysia has commended China for its commitment to resolve disputes and overlapping territorial claims in the resource-rich and strategic South China Sea through peaceful negotiations.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the pledge by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang at the ongoing 23rd Asean Summit here not to use force in resolving the matter was welcomed as Kuala Lumpur had always opposed the use of force or threats.

“With China’s commitment, the claimant states should now be committed to resolving matters peacefully through negotiations.

“We need to work on the Code of Conduct as well as the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea for an amicable solution,” he told Malaysian media at the end of day one of the summit here yesterday.

Earlier yesterday, the Chinese Prime Minister had told the summit that Asean should not let the question of the South China Sea affect overall China-Asean relations.

China is now Asean’s biggest trading partner with bilateral trade last year amounting to US$400bil (RM1.27 trillion), nearly six times that of 10 years ago.

In the first half of this year, bilateral trade topped US$210bil (RM670bil), an increase of 12% compared to the corresponding period last year.

Petronas eyes Canada licence

 

AN export licence is the next important step for the Canadian unit of Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) to see its C$36 billion (RM111 billion) investment advance further.

Its unit, Pacific Northwest LNG, had in July applied to Canada's National Energy Board (NEB) for a licence to export up to 19.68 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per year for 25 years beginning 2019 from its proposed multi-billion dollar export facility in Port Edward, British Columbia.

The filing for the NEB export licence is regarded as "another important step to bring the tremendous opportunity into reality".

"We believe that the successful completion of our project will create long-term, multi-generational benefits for First Nations, northwest British Columbia, the province and the country as a whole.

"While we continue our work to reach a final investment decision in late 2014, we believe that our project has all of the key components of a successful world-class LNG development," said Pacific Northwest president Greg Kist in a statement.

Pacific NorthWest, which is owned through various subsidiaries by Petronas, plans to build three so-called trains, the cooling units where the liquefaction of gas occurs, on Lelu Island in the Port Edward district, south of Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

The site will be used to liquefy and export natural gas produced by Calgary-based Progress Energy Canada, which was bought by Petronas last year in a US$5.5 billion deal.

Since then, Petronas and Malaysia have shown commitment to further invest in the development of LNG in Canada.


Last Saturday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that Petronas will invest C$36 billion over 30 years to build the energy plant that will cover the construction of upstream facilities, including a pipeline leading to the plant.

"I am told that it is the largest foreign direct investment in Canada by any country. This is a significant landmark decision by Petronas following a positive response from the Canadian government," Najib had said during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who was on a visit to Malaysia.

The Petronas takeover of Progress Energy triggered months of hand-wringing in the Harper's government over majority takeovers of Canadian companies by foreign state-owned enterprises.

The Canadian government eventually did approve the deals last year but at the same time introduced new rules that permit such takeovers only in the most exceptional circumstances.

Earlier reports said the proposed LNG facility will comprise an initial development of two LNG trains of about six million tonnes per annum (mtpa) each and a subsequent development of a third train of about six mtpa.

Petronas plans to invest between C$9 billion and C$11 billion to construct the first two liquefication units and C$5 billion on a 750km-long pipeline, to be built by TransCanada Corp, that will supply gas to the two units.

Pacific NorthWest will be supplied with natural gas sourced primarily from Progress Energy Canada's assets in northeast British Columbia.

Petronas, through its subsidiaries, will hold a 90 per cent interest in the project, with Japan Petroleum Exploration Co Ltd holding the rest.

The proposed facility is also expected to create up to 3,500 direct jobs during its construction stage. Once operational, the LNG facility will create 200 to 300 permanent full-time jobs.

We can help with woes over asylum-seekers, Australia told

Malaysia has offered to help handle the influx of asylum-seekers into Australia, many of whom die while at sea or upon reaching Australia in horrible conditions.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak extended the offer during bilateral talks with his Australian counterpart Tony Abbot at the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Leaders Summit here yesterday.

“Human trafficking is a big issue,” he said. “Such illegal activities had brought great suffering to those who had paid hefty sums of money to go to other countries,” Najib said.

“These people (asylum-seekers) use rickety and unsafe vessels. The Australian PM and I discussed how to prevent such incidents from occurring,” he told Malaysian reporters here.

He and Abbot also discussed a “reverse Colombo Plan”, whereby students Down Under would be offered places in Malaysian universities, besides experiencing the cultures and lives of Malaysians, and those of other Asean countries.

The Plan (named after the Sri Lankan capital where it started in the 1950s) embodies a concept of collective inter-governmental efforts to strengthen economic and social development of countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Regarding his meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, Najib said his counterpart had expressed support for Malaysia’s bid for a seat as a non-permanent member in the United Nation’s Security Council.

New Zealand was also offering to be in the council but this would not be an issue to Malaysia, Najib said.

“We are representing the Asia-Pacific countries, while New Zealand is part of the other countries that include Turkey and Spain, in the contest for the seat,” he said.

(Source: The Star Online)

Flexibility is key to signing of Pacific trade pact, Najib says at Apec dialogue - Bernama

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today expressed his concern on a few areas in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) at the Apec CEO Summit dialogue in Bali.

He also stressed that "flexibility" would be key to the successful negotiation of the agreement at the dialogue themed Investment in Infrastructure and Human Capital - Investing for Economic Resilience.

“We do have a few areas of great concern because TPP is a different free trade agreement,” said Najib, who was a panel member with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, in response to a question by the moderator, Diane Brady, a senior editor with Bloomberg, about his concerns on the TPPA.

The prime minister said the TPPA goes beyond the normal trade and investment in the free trade agreements that Malaysia has with many countries.

“As you go beyond that, into areas of intellectual properties, investor-state dispute settlement, government procurement, state-owned enterprises, environment and labour, so you impinge on fundamentally the sovereign right of the country to make regulation and policy.

"That is a tricky part and that is why we ask for flexibility,” he said.

Najib had said yesterday that it was unlikely that the TPPA would be concluded by year-end, the scheduled deadline.

The TPPA is a proposed free trade agreement under negotiation by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) member countries – Australia, Brunei, Chile, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, South Korea, The United States and Vietnam. – Bernama, October 7, 2013.

(Source: The Malaysian Insider)

Petronas strengthens Canada-Malaysia ties

Local delights: Najib introducing Harper to the many varieties of local fruits during a luncheon to welcome the Canadian prime minister at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia is now the largest foreign direct investor in Canada following the confirmation of Petronas’ C$36bil (RM110bil) liquefied natural gas (LNG) export business project in the country.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak confirmed this after a bilateral meeting with his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper yesterday.

The one-hour closed door meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s office here. Harper arrived here on Friday for a three-day visit.

Najib said Malaysia was pleased with the Canadian government’s approval of Petronas’ earlier investment of C$5bil (RM15.3bil) in Progress Energy Canada, which was a significant investment for Malaysia in Canada.

“We are confident in the policies of the Canadian government and saw a wealth of opportunities in opening up the country’s energy industry to new markets.

“There is a 30-year timeline for the C$36bil investment and Petronas is very positive about this decision,” he told a joint press conference after the meeting.

Progress Energy Canada, formed after Petronas bought over Progress Energy Resources Corp last December, will undertake the project known as Pacific Northwest LNG which has been designed to capitalise on Asia’s growing demand for LNG by tapping into the abundant supply of cheap and land-locked natural gas in Canada.

On the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA), Najib said he expected it to take a longer time to be concluded than the initial year-end timeline.

Najib to lead Malaysian delegation to Apec summit

BALI: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak will lead a Malaysian delegation to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Lea­ders Summit which begins today.

The meeting has been overshadowed by the absence of US President Barack Obama, who cancelled his trip to the summit and several Southeast-Asian countries including Malaysia, following a partial US government shutdown after a budget row in the Congress.

Obama is represented by Secretary of State John Kerry at Apec 2013.

Najib is expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from several countries, including Australia and New Zealand, and is also slated to attend the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) leaders’ meeting here.

The TPP is being pushed by Obama to create a Asia-Pacific free-trade area covering nearly 40% of the global economic output.

Protests have erupted over fears that it could open domestic markets to foreign competition.

Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin said Obama’s absence would mean several high-level meetings with other economic leaders would be cancelled.

It is understood that Najib will also meet with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here.

This year’s summit, themed “Towards Resilient Asia-Pacific, Engine of Global Growth” signalled the importance of Asian economies in free trade and investments.

Najib to deliberate on APEC’s three priorities during AELM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is scheduled to deliberate on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec)’s three priorities during the 21st Apec Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM) in Bali, Indonesia, beginning Monday.

A Foreign Ministry statement said Apec 2013′s three priorities are ‘Attaining the Bogor Goals’, ‘Promoting Connectivity’ and ‘Achieving Sustainable Growth with Equity’.

“Apart from exchanging views with other leaders on these issues, the prime minister will also explore new and innovative ideas to further enhance cooperation among Apec economies,” said the statement.

Najib, who will lead the Malaysian delegation to the AELM, will be accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainudin and senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry, International Trade and Industry Ministry and Finance Ministry.

The two-day AELM, to be attended by Heads of Government of the 21 Pacific Rim member economies, will assume a vital role in promoting trade as well as investment in the Asia-Pacific region.

The outcome of the 21st Apec Economic Leaders Meeting will be documented in the Apec Economic Leaders’ Declaration. – BERNAMA

(Source: http://www.theborneopost.com)

Canadian PM accorded welcome

Najib and Harper hold a joint press conference after their meeting at Putrajaya

PUTRAJAYA: Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper who is on a three day visit to Malaysia was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Perdana Square Sunday.

Harper was greeted upon arrival by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak at 9.30am, before the national anthems of Malaysia and Canada were played.

Harper then inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 106 officers and men of the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment.

Also present to welcome Harper were Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Chief Secretary to the government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, and several cabinet ministers.

The two leaders were then ushered to Level Five of the Perdana Putra building here to begin their bilateral meeting, where several memorandums of understanding are expected to be signed, followed by a joint press conference.

Harper arrived in Malaysia on Friday. -Bernama

(Source: The Star Online)

A strong Umno is crucial to success of BN, says Najib

Responsible leader: Najib posing after handing out sacrificial cows to his Pekan constituents. — Bernama

PEKAN: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on Umno members to respect and accept with an open heart whatever decisions made by the grassroots regarding the upcoming party polls.

The Umno president said a strong united Umno was crucial to the success of Barisan Nasional in the next general election.

“As the Pekan Umno division chief, it is my responsibility to make sure we are all united. If we have unity, we will be successful in all of our struggles,” said Najib before handing out sacrificial cows to his Pekan constituents here yesterday.

The Prime Minister also said loyalty and making sacrifices were values that should be observed by all in Umno.

“Throughout history, we have been successful in tackling challenges because we were willing to make sacrifices, some even with their lives.

“During the struggle for independence, some people sacrificed their lives but they were not successful because they were in small, disorganised groups,” he said.

Xi: Malaysia-China ties built on mutual help and trust

China's President Xi Jinping speaks during the Malaysia-China Economic Summit.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and China's strong bilateral ties were built on mutual help given in difficult times and ever more solid political trust, said China's president Xi Jinping.

Stressing that Malaysia was an important stop on his first state trip to Southeast Asia, he thanked the business communities from both nations who had long been committed to enhancing mutually beneficial cooperation.

"Our two countries have proven to be good neighbours, good friends and good partners who go through thick and thin together," he said in his keynote speech at the Malaysia-China Economic Summit at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here Friday.

Xi added that China would also never forget the strong public support it received from the Malaysian public in the aftermath of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.

"It touched our hearts. In 2012, a Malaysian student from Tianjin University saved the life of a seven-year-old Chinese boy by donating his own stem cells. These stories give full expression to the profound friendship between our people," he said.

He noted that Malaysia had been the first Asean country to establish diplomatic ties with China, while Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had chosen China as the first country to visit outside of Asean in 2009.

Malaysia-China relationship an opportunity of a lifetime, says Xi

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia and China set the stage for a boom in relationship and the economy with what Chinese President Xi Jinping has described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He described the great opportunities available from the significant upgrading of trade and business ties between the two countries, as “shi bu zai lai” (‘it will only come once’ in Mandarin).

Based on what has been agreed by the two leaders over a five-year economic and trade cooperation, there is much in store for both countries to benefit.

Malaysia and China have also finalised the teamwork mechanism for the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park (QIP), launched in April last year, and signed the agreed minutes for the setting up of a joint cooperation council of the QIP and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP).

The MCKIP, the sister park of QIP in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region in China, was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in April 2011.

The formation of the council is a huge step forward for the iconic QIP-MCKIP tie-up, as it would be responsible for coordinating, promoting, monitoring and evaluating the progress and development of the parks.

Most significantly, Najib and Xi pledge to achieve a bilateral trade volume of US$160bil (RM508bil) by the end of 2017 – 1.7 times more than last year’s amount.

Malaysia-China target RM500b in trade by 2017 - Bernama

Najib (2nd left) and Xi (4th right) heading for more talks in the Malaysia-China Economic Summit in Kuala Lumpur today. - Reuters pic, October 4, 2013

Malaysia and China are set to achieve a total bilateral trade of US$160 billion by 2017, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

During a closed-door meeting with China's President Xi Jinping at his office today, both leaders also discussed a five-year programme for economic and trade cooperation and agreed to elevate the current cooperation between both countries into a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Prime Minister said China also expressed keen interest to participate in Malaysia's high-speed rail project, China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park.

"We also discussed greater cooperation in financial services. We’d like to see more trade between the countries settled in the Renminbi and Ringgit.

"Information should also be disseminated to the private sectors of both countries. We also agreed that financial institutions in Malaysia and China should assume a greater role in both countries," he said at a joint press conference with Xi after the meeting.

Xi and his 100-member delegation arrived in Malaysia yesterday for a three-day state visit.

Both leaders are expected to attend the Malaysia-China Economic Summit, later today, aimed at promoting and enhancing business-to-business linkages and collaboration between Malaysia and China.

Najib hoping for more FDI from China for mutual benefit

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has expressed hope for more foreign direct investment (FDI) to be pumped into Malaysia from China for the benefit of both countries.

 

While he thanked the Chinese government for supporting Malaysian companies, Najib said the amount of FDI from China was not as much as the FDI from Malaysia into the Asian economic giant.

"As of 2012, Malaysia's cumulative FDI into China stands at USD6.3bil (RM20.05bil).

"The cross flow from China to Malaysia however, is a fraction of that," he said in his speech at the Malaysia-China Economic Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Friday.

Najib said Malaysia looked forward to further investment in the future, as it continued to explore business opportunities in China and carry out reforms.

"We also laud the ongoing initiatives to facilitate further trade, including our bilateral currency swap arrangement agreement.

Xi begins 3-day state visit

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia rolled out the red carpet to welcome President Xi Jinping of China, whose three-day visit is set to usher in a new era in relations between both countries.

The visit is of utmost importance as it signals the commitment of the new Chinese leadership to maintain the longstanding friendly relations with Kuala Lumpur since the establishment of diplomatic relations 39 years ago.

Accompanied by his wife, Peng Liyuan, Xi was greeted by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, upon arrival at the Bunga Raya Complex, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, at 6.35pm.

Others in the Chinese delegation included State Councillor overseeing foreign diplomacy Yang Jiechi, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.

Xi arrived here after wrapping up a state visit to Indonesia, the first stop of his maiden trip to Southeast Asia since assuming the presidency in March.

 According to Wisma Putra, the trip will enable Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Xi to chart the future direction of Malaysia-China relations, which includes reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation in all fields and contribute to the prosperity and maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

Today, Xi will be given an official welcome at Parliament, where he is expected to go on a short visit with his presidential entourage.

He is scheduled to meet Najib at the Prime Minister's office in Putrajaya after that.

Malaysia-China ties stronger than ever

Razak and his Malaysian delegation being given a rousing welcome upon arrival at the Beijing airport in 1974.

KUALA LUMPUR: It has been 39 years since the late Tun Abdul Razak played a crucial role in establishing diplomatic ties with China.

And in all the years since, even after the former Prime Minister’s passing, the Chinese government has maintained a cordial relationship with his widow Tun Rahah Mohd Noah and her family.

Through its embassy here, China has invited Rahah to its functions and to the ambassadors’ official residence and even called on her – all in appreciation of her husband’s mammoth contributions in bringing the two countries closer.

Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Chai Xi said it had always been a custom for the Chinese to remember the good deeds done for them.

Canada’s Harper to visit Malaysia tomorrow

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 3 — Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make a three-day official visit to Malaysia from Friday, at the invitation of his counterpart Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said Harper’s first visit to Malaysia in his capacity as prime minister would certainly help elevate Malaysia’s relations with Canada.

“Both prime ministers are expected to have a bilateral meeting on various bilateral cooperations, focusing on trade and investment in the oil and gas fields as well as agriculture, plantation and transportation sectors,” he said.

Briefing the media ahead of the visit here yesterday, Anifah noted that the bilateral focus between Malaysia and Canada had shifted from being product-oriented to bilateral investment-based relations, with investments from both sides on the increase in recent years.

The minister further said that the visit also envisaged to further enhance cooperation in the fields of security and military, finance-related matters and private sector engagements.

The last Canadian prime minister to visit Malaysia was Jean Chretien who attended the Apec Summit in Kuala Lumpur in 1998. The last high-level visit from Malaysia was by former Malaysia’s King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, in 2010. – Bernama

(Source: http://www.themalaymailonline.com)

Najib Razak : Lawatan Presiden China Xi Jinping

Presiden China, Xi Jinping memulakan lawatan Negara selama tiga hari ke Malaysia. Lawatan ini akan membolehkan Najib Razak dan Xi melakar hala tuju masa depan hubungan Malaysia-China.

(Source: 1malaysia.com.my)

Najib, Xi to 'set future direction' of bilateral ties

BOOSTING TIES AND TRADE: Chinese president to ink several economic cooperation and trade agreements

KUALA LUMPUR:   MALAYSIA and China are expected to sign several economic pacts and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) during Chinese President's Xi Jinping state visit here, his first since assuming office in March.

Xi, who arrives today, will have bilateral talks with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak during his three-day visit which Wisma Putra said would "set the future direction" of Malaysia-China ties.

"This (state) visit of President Xi is of utmost importance as it signals the commitment of the new Chinese leadership to maintain the long-standing friendly relations with Malaysia," Foreign Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said.

"The visit is envisaged to take into account the geo-strategic developments rapidly taking place in the region," he said at a news briefing ahead of the visit.

Xi will be accompanied by a 100-strong delegation, which includes his wife, Peng Liyuan, State Councillor overseeing foreign diplomacy Yang jiechi, Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi and Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.

Airbus sets up regional service centre in Sepang

Jet set: Najib looking at a model of an Airbus jet at KLIA in Sepang. Looking on is Airbus president and CEO Fabrice Bergier.

SEPANG: Malaysia has consolidated its position as one of the three leading countries in the Asia Pacific area for aircraft maintenance, repairs and overhaul (MRO) services.

This was acknowledged by aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which has set up a new Airbus Customer Services Centre for specialised aerospace engineering services here.

The centre, located adjacent to the Sepang Aircraft Engineering (SAE) facility, represents an expansion of Airbus’ global network of offices providing 24/7 specialised major engineering and repair services.

Existing offices offering these services are in Toulouse, Hamburg, Wichita and Beijing.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who officiated the launch of the construction of the hangar at the SAE facility yesterday, said SAE would be able to offer world-class maintenance services to airlines from across the region and beyond while the new Airbus Customer Services facility would put Malaysia on the international map as a centre for specialised aerospace engineering services.

“Both initiatives will significantly enhance our position in this high-value business.

“It will also provide further proof that Malaysia is a major player in the MRO business in the region,” he said.

‘Budget 2014 to benefit all, including civil servants’

PUTRAJAYA: The Budget 2014 to be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Oct 25 will be geared towards economic growth.

“It will be a pro-growth budget, so as citizens, civil servants will also benefit from it,” Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said yesterday.

Queried as to whether there would be any announcement on salary, benefits and allowances for civil servants in the budget, he responded that the government had taken care of those matters through two pay rises this year, as well as capping automatic increments at minimum three percent for those who have reached maximum salary.

Apart from that the Public Service Department was also reviewing the 86 allowances under various civil service schemes as announced at the 13th Civil Service Dialogue in March, he added.

“The results of the review will be announced in December as scheduled,” he said at a press conference after opening Innovation Day 2013 at the Prime Minister’s Department here.

Ali said the Innovation Day was aimed at strengthening the culture of innovation in the government’s service delivery system. — Bernama

(Source: http://www.theborneopost.com)

Najib prays for success of PMR candidates

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today prayed for the success of 462,940 students sitting for their Penilaian Menengah Rendah (PMR) examination nationwide from tomorrow.

"I pray for the success of students who will begin their PMR exam tomorrow. Hopefully, they will see the fruit of their labour," he said on his Facebook account today.

The PMR examination will be held for six days starting tomorrow until Oct 9 at 3,530 examination centres around the country.

On his working visit to the United States from Sept 22 to 29, Najib said he had stated Malaysia's stand on international political issues at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

"Besides that, Malaysia has also identified several investment sectors with the US in efforts to develop the national economy," said Najib, who added that he arrived home this evening after his week-long visit to the US.  -- BERNAMA

(Source: http://www.nst.com.my)

Najib arrives home from USA visit

SEPANG, Oct 1 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has returned home after his visit to the United States of America from Sept 22 to 29.

Najib and wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, arrived at the Bunga Raya Complex, KL International Airport (KLIA) here at 7pm today.

Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa, Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and several Barisan Nasional (BN) component party and government leaders welcomed their arrival.

In his visit to the US, the prime minister led the Malaysian delegation to the 68th United Nations General Assembly in New York from Sept 25 to 29.

He made a statement at the High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament on Sept 26, and a National Statement at the General Debate on Sept 28.

Besides that, Najib also delivered a keynote address at an Asia Society function and held a meeting with key industry figures from Asean and the US during a luncheon event with the US-Asean Business Council and US Chamber of Commerce, as well as hosted a dinner funtion with Malaysians in New York on Sept 28. 

We want to ensure Malaysians don't live in fear, says PM

The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) is to ensure Malaysians will not live in fear of crime happening in their own backyard, says Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He rejected claims that the PCA is the Government’s move to revive the Internal Security Act (ISA), saying that the proposed amendments were dedicated to fighting organised crime.

“If the Government does not take serious action, more people will bec­ome victims and they will live in fear.

“I want to create an atmosphere where each Malaysian will feel safe in their own country, and this can be done through a serious commitment from the Government and giving priority to the security of a country,” Najib told the Malaysian media at the end of a working visit to San Francisco and New York.

He said the PCA was different from the ISA, which vested huge powers in the Home Minister and police to make arrests without going through a court process.

“But this time (under the amended PCA), the decision will be made by a judge. So, if the police were to arrest anyone, they have to convince the judge that the particular individual should be detained.

“And we will make sure that no one will be victimised,” he said, adding that a person would not be arrested merely for subscribing to any political ideology.

The proposed amendments to the PCA would enable the authorities to detain hardcore criminals for up to two years without trial.

This particular section of the PCA has incurred the wrath of Opposition politicians and some civil societies.

They claimed that the PCA was another form of the ISA. Asked to comment on the objections, Najib said: “It doesn’t mean that we have to consult all stakeholders, but they are free to give us their views.”

(Source: http://www.thestar.com.my)

PCA amendments to fight organised crime, says Najib – Bernama

The proposed amendments to the Prevention of Crime Act (PCA) are dedicated to fighting organised crime and not aimed at reviving the abolished Internal Security Act (ISA), said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic).

He said the PCA was different from the ISA which vested huge powers in the home minister and police to make arrests without going through a court process.

"But this time (under the amended PCA), the decision will be made by a judge. So, if the police were to arrest anyone, they have to convince the judge that the particular individual should be detained," he told a news conference at the end of his eight-day working visit to San Francisco and New York, yesterday.

"And we will make sure that no one will be victimised," he said, adding that a person would not be arrested merely for subscribing to any political ideology.

Last Wednesday, the government tabled amendments to the PCA to give the authorities the power to detain hardcore criminals for up to two years without trial.

Najib said the country needed a specific law to combat organised crime as the perpetrators had resorted to crime openly.

"This has frightened the public and if the government doesn't act, more people will become victims and the public will become more afraid," he said, adding that he did not want a situation where people no longer felt safe in their own country.

The prime minister said, however, the crime-fighting efforts required a commitment from all quarters and what was important was a country free from crime.

Commenting on objections against the amendments, he said: "It doesn't mean that we have to consult all stakeholders, but they are free to give their views to us." - Bernama, September 30, 2013.

(Source: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com)

Elections must be clean and healthy: Najib

NEW YORK: Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has expressed the hope that this year's upcoming Umno elections would be seen as a clean and healthy process.

He said Umno members should play their role in ensuring that the electoral system brought about the transformation desired by the party.

Najib, who is the Malaysian prime minister, said the elections this time around banked on the integrity of the candidates to hold any position in Umno, regardless of whether it was at the national or divisional levels.

He said Umno had introduced a new constitution which provided greater democracy to the party members.

The new constitution allowed for up to 150,000 members to elect their leaders, he told Malaysian journalists covering his working visit to San Francisco and New York from Sept 22 to yesterday. -Bernama

(Source: http://www.nst.com.my)

Government to distribute BR1M twice next year - Bernama

The government plans to distribute the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) twice next year, says Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

He said apart from this, the method of distribution may also be through the recipients’ back accounts.

"The value of the BR1M will be announced during the tabling of Budget 2014 on October 25 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"We have prepared the first draft for this, which has been presented to Najib. So, we are further strengthening the distribution of the BR1M. While the actual amount has not been determined, it is certain to be more than the RM500 handed out previously," he added.

He was speaking to reporters after officiating the opening of the Sekolah Agama Rakyat Ehsaniah at Kampung Dato Ahmad Said Tambahan II, Gugusan Manjoi, near Ipoh today.

He said the distribution of the BR1M twice will enable recipients to use it within a specified time and in a more careful manner compared to a one-off handout.

Ahmad Husni said when the subsidy rationalisation policy is implemented, the government will also look at the best assistance model for those having a household income of between RM4,000 and RM5,000.

UN General Assembly Speech

Najib showcases “moderate Muslim” image as Malaysia vies for a seat on UN Security Council

Najib is interviewed by CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria at the Council of Foreign Relations during United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 26, 2013. – Reuters pic, September 28, 2013.

In a United Nations General Assembly week spiked with breakthroughs in talks on Syria and Iran, Malaysia’s bid for a coveted UN Security Council seat was previewed and praised when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak spoke at a Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) event in New York.

Western and Asean diplomats who attended the discussion about "moderate Muslims" and the Global Movement of Moderates, led by CNN host and foreign policy expert Fareed Zakaria, applauded Najib for his “rational arguments defending the voices of moderates” at a time of deepening religious divisions and conflict around the world.

The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, agreed that Najib previewed what they described as a “strong case, a substantial downpayment” for Malaysia’s bid to join the UN’s top decision-making body that has a mandate to enforce global peace and security.

The prime minister argued for “dialogue over confrontation, negotiation over conflict”, in a year when permanent members of the Council such as the United States and France have been grappling with suitable responses to the violence in Egypt and Syria.

While the Security Council has five permanent members – a legacy of the post-1945 world – and retain veto power over resolutions for action by UN member states, the other 10 rotating member-states still play a key role in debating and deciding its binding resolutions that include peacekeeping operations (often dubbed the ‘blue helmets’ brigade), authorising military action and establishing sanctions (as is currently imposed on Iran).

PM foresees TPPA negotiations to be tough

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak foresees the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) negotiations to be tough in the next few months.

The key to it, he said, is to be flexible as with flexibility things will get done in the end.

He said this when answering a question during his talk, “The New Meetings, “Moderation: The New Modernity”, co-sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations’ (CFR) Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative at the Peter G. Peterson Hall, The Harold Pratt House, New York.

The participant who asked the question is an CFR member in Washington, DC, who was participating in the meeting via video-conference.

Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said Malaysia agreed to participate in the negotiations because he is a great believer in free trade and open regionalism.

Najib said he was looking at the context of increasing trade and investment which will be great for the nations involved, including Malaysia and the United States.

Najib proposes solving world problems via moderation

TREATY ON ARMS TRADING: Najib signing the Arms Trade Treaty on the sidelines of UNGA at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Overseeing the event are Miguel de Serpa Soares, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and United Nations Legal Counsel (centre) and Santiago Villapando from the Chief Treaty Section Office of Legal Affairs. — Bernama photo

 

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak believes many of the world’s current problems can be solved if society subscribed to the whole concept of moderation.

 

He said if the society and governments used moderation in their actions and policies, then the country would have a much more just, fair and inclusive society.

He said moderation was based on certain principles and sound values, like justice, sense of fairness, and choosing dialogue over confrontation, and negotiation over conflict.

“And, if you choose moderation and reject Nazism or militancy and extremist-thinking, there is every chance that we can work in a peaceful world,” he said in his lecture, ‘The New Meetings, Moderation: The New Modernity’.

The lecture was co-sponsored by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)’s Religion and Foreign Policy Initiative, at the Peter G. Peterson Hall, The Harold Pratt House in New York.

The session was hosted by CNN’s Fareed Zakaria, who is Editor-at-Large, TIME Magazine and member, board of directors, CFR.

Najib: Middle East needs nuclear free zone

NEW YORK: Malaysia does not believe in the doctrine of nuclear deterrence as a means to achieve international peace and security, said Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

He said the existence of nuclear weapons only served to encourage their proliferation.

Najib was speaking at the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament at the United Nations headquarters, here yesterday.

“I want to underline the need for all states to enhance efforts to attain the general as well as complete disarmament of all nuclear weapons, under strict international control.

“In this regard, I wish to also reiterate Malaysia’s deep concern on the slow progress in the reduction of strategic nuclear weapons, as well as modernisation and upgrading of nuclear arsenals.

“Many of these weapons are on high-alert status. My delegation thus urges those states with nuclear weapons on high-alert to decrease the operational readiness of their systems, which we believe is a small but necessary step forward,” he said.

Najib courting American investors

Meeting of minds: Najib talking to US fund managers during a meeting at the Harvard Club New York. Sitting on his left is Malaysian Special Envoy to the US Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis. — Bernama

AFTER experiencing the latest technology and innovations in the Silicon Valley, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak flew into the Big Apple to make a pitch to American investors on the advantages of doing business with Malaysia.

The Prime Minister arrived on Wednesday morning from San Francisco and barely had a few hours of rest before giving an address at the Global Investment Symposium at Harvard Club, followed by a private meeting with fund managers and another meeting with American investors.

During the question and answer session at the symposium, he gave a long list of successes due to the pro-business and pro-growth policies of the Malaysian Government as verified by international organisations like the World Bank and Unctad.

Najib urges US MNCs to make KL their regional hub for Asia

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called United State (US)-based Fortune 500 and Forbes 2000 companies to make Kuala Lumpur their regional hub for Asia by expanding investments in the Southeast Asian nations.

In a statement yesterday, InvestKL said Najib was speaking at the InvestKL ‘In Conversation With The Prime Minister’ in New York, ahead of President Obama’s visit to Malaysia next month.

He said the US is one of Malaysia’s largest foreign direct investors and fourth largest trading partner, with a long history of trade and friendship.

“Malaysia’s strategic location and position as the leading economy within Asia and Asean, and the ongoing Economic Transformation Programme are the catalysts to elevate the nation to a developed country with a high-income economy by 2020.

“Our efforts to provide a business-friendly environment have been affirmed by the World Bank, which ranked Malaysia the 12th best place in the world to conduct business in its ‘Ease of Doing Business 2013’ report.

Najib offers condolences to Azizan's family

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has offered his condolences to the family of former Kedah menteri besar Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak who died in Alor Setar today.

"Al-Fatihah. Condolences to the family of Tan Sri Azizan Abdul Razak on his demise. May his soul be blessed," the prime minister said in his Twitter post. Azizan, 69, died at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital, Alor Setar at 11.10am today after a long illness.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, on behalf of the government, Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN), extended his condolences to Azizan's family.

He described Azizan's demise as a loss to the country as the deceased had contributed to the country's development, especially Kedah during his tenure as menteri besar.

"On this score, we feel that his demise is a loss as a friend and a leader.

Politics aside, we believe his demise is a loss to us as well," he told reporters after receiving Myanmar Parliament speaker Thura U Shwe Mann at his office at Parliament House here today.

Najib prays for Pakistan people's safety, resilience

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has prayed for the safety and resilience of the people of Pakistan following a devastating earthquake that struck the nation on Tuesday. 

"My thoughts and prayers are for the victims of the Pakistan earthquake. I pray for the people's safety and resilience in this trying time," he said in his Twitter post today. 

 

A powerful quake killed at least 328 people and wounded hundreds more in Pakistan's remote south-west province of Balochistan. 

 

The 7.7-magnitude quake struck on Tuesday afternoon at a depth of 20km northeast of Awaran district. Bernama

 

(Source: http://www.nst.com.my)

Investors upbeat on Malaysia as FDI destination: Najib

Prime Minister Najib at the Harvard Club. - Reuters pic

NEW YORK, Sept 26 — Investors remain confident about Malaysia as a foreign direct investment (FDI) destination despite the declining inflows of FDI into the country, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib said yesterday.

He said Malaysia recorded inflows of US$10.16 billion (RM32.6 billion) in 2012 and maintained its ranking as the third-largest recipient of FDIs in ASEAN in the World Investment Report 2013 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

UNCTAD also ranked Malaysia 11th among 20 economies with the highest FDI profitability, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said at the “Global Investment Symposium” at Havard Club New York here yesterday.

The symposium, aimed at promoting Malaysia, specifically Greater Kuala Lumpur, as an investment proposition and destination for US investors, was well attended by American businessmen, investors and captains of industry.

Najib said the 17 per cent rate of return recorded by Malaysia was testimony that Malaysia was profitable for businesses.

Malaysians at Google happy with work environment

Happy faces: Najib sharing a light moment with Malaysians working for Google when he visited the headquarters in Menlo Park, California. — Bernama

FOR Ajay Gopinathan, Google Inc is the place he wants to be as he gets to play with cool technology every time he goes to work.

The 35-year-old software engineer from Shah Alam said working at the search engine company had always been his first choice.

“I really like it here. It is a good place to work at and I really like what I have been doing in the last two years,” he said in an interview at Google’s headquarters in Menlo Park, California.

Ajay is one of seven Malaysian Googlers who had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak during his visit on Tuesday.

Ajay was doing his PhD in computer science in Canada when he applied for a job with Google, which was followed by a telephone interview.

“Then they flew me to California for six rounds of interviews and a week later, I was offered a job.”

Norzaini Mohd Suhaimi, 52, said that although she was older than some of her colleagues, age was never a problem.

“I don’t feel the age gap. Nobody frowns upon you if you are older or in different shapes or sizes,” she said.

Norzaini, who hails from Kota Baru, had worked as an interior designer and in event management when she came across a job offer with the Google map section.

“I have been living in California with my husband and two children in the last 30 years.

“When I saw the job opening, I decided to apply.”

Najib visits Facebook and Google offices

Google executive Caesar Sengupta (left) taking Najib on a tour around the Google headquarters at Mountain View, San Francisco. - BERNAMA

SAN FRANCISCO: It was another enlightening day for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the Silicon Valley as he met with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and visited the Google office.

Najib, who is on a three-day working visit to the Silicon Valley, spent half a day each at  the social media giant's' head office in Menlo Park and the search engine headquarters in Mountain View on Tuesday.

"The experience is very very interesting, an eye-opener not only products but also the lifestyle, especially the culture of innovation.

"How do we promote the culture of innovation. It's not about the hardware, it's not about the regulations and incentives but also about the way of live and the culture of innovation which is important because that's the underpinning for innovation to really succeed," he told the Malaysian media following him on the trip.

The Prime Minister said during his visit to Facebook, the company had expressed a willingness to work with the Malaysian Government on its efforts to further engage the people to learn more on what they wanted.

When Najib Razak met Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg - Bernama

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) had a private meeting with Facebook chairman and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg at the social media giant's head office in Menlo Park yesterday.

The Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) in a statement here said Najib and Zuckerberg discussed potential collaborative efforts between Facebook and Malaysia.

The discussion centred on efforts to bridge the digital divide and bring Internet accessibility as well as digital opportunities to the unconnected.

On August 20 this year, Facebook, together with founding partners Ericsson, Media Tek, Nokia, Opera, Qualcomm and Samsung, launched the Internet.org initiative to make Internet access available to the next five billion people. It is focused on addressing three key challenges — making access affordable, using data more efficiently and helping business drive access — in developing countries.

"Internet.org is a noble and audacious initiative and it is commendable that the industry is making an attempt to be inclusive and to bridge the digital divide.

"With wider Internet accessibility, more Malaysians can be empowered in new areas of digital adoption, use and creation to catalyse our nation's shift to a new, knowledge-based economy," Najib said.

A tight schedule awaits Prime Minister in New York

NEW YORK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who will be leading the Malaysian delegation to the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) from Sept 25 to 29, will have a tight schedule in New York.

Najib is expected to arrive in New York with his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor early Wednesday morning from San Francisco.

 

Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman said the prime minister was slated to deliver Malaysia’s national statement at the General Debate of the 68th UNGA on Sept 28, his second time of doing so after the maiden in 2010.

 

"The prime minister will also be delivering another important statement at the High-Level Meeting of the General Assembly on Nuclear Disarmament which outlines Malaysia’s views on efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons that continue to threaten world security," he said.

 

Anifah told a news conference at the Malaysian Permanent Mission to the United Nations office in Midtown Manhattan on Tuesday that while here, Najib would also take the opportunity to sign the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) which was opened for signature since last June.

 

"The ATT will foster peace and security by putting a stop to destabilising arms flows to conflict regions. To date, the ATT has been signed by 85 member states and requires the ratification of 50 states to come into force," he said.

 

Anifah said the prime minister had been invited to deliver a keynote address entitled, "A Rebalancing Act: Asia’s Place in The New World Order", at a special private high-level dinner by the Asia Society on Thursday.

 

Asia Society is a leading educational organisation dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among peoples, leaders and institutions of Asia and the United States in a global context.

 

An important aspect of the prime minister’s visit to New York will be his participation in the Global Investment Symposium 2013, a meeting with US fund managers and a session with US investors right after his arrival in New York, at the renowned Harvard Club.

 

Najib will also be attending a luncheon with the US-Asean Business Council and the US Chamber of Commerce.

Najib’s tweets from Twitter HQ catch 1.7 mln followers by surprise

TWEETING: Costolo (right) and Ahmad Shabery look on as Najib posts his tweet at the Twitter office.

SAN FRANCISCO: ‘Meeting Twitter CEO@dickc at Twitter HQ’ and ‘Great Session at Twitter HQ. A wonderful platform to engage with Malaysians n the Global Community’.

Those were the two tweets posted by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on his Twitter account @NajibRazak from Twitter headquarters in Market Street here, Monday.

Najib, who also appended a picture of him shaking hands with Twitter chief executive officer Dick Costolo to one of the tweets, posted the tweets on his own using his smartphone, witnessed by Costolo.

The picture shows Najib and Costolo shaking hands with the blue Twitter’s corporate logo printed on a bunting in the background.

Earlier, Najib arrived at the Twitter headquarters before he was taken for a tour of the office, including the cafeteria, by Twitter executives.

He then had a meeting with Costolo and his senior management team, according to a statement issued by the Malaysian Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) here.

Accompanying Najib on the visit were Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh, officials and CEOs of several government-linked companies. — Bernama

(Source: www.theborneopost.com)

Govt encourages setting up of data management centres in m’sia — PM

GIVING ATTENTION: Najib delivering his speech on the Third Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) luncheon yesterday.

SAN FRANCISCO: The government encourages the setting up of data management centres in Malaysia to develop the national information technology (IT) industry, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the setting up of the latest data management centres was among the matters being given attention by the government.

Speaking to the media after chairing the 3rd annual general meeting of the Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council (GSIAC) here yesterday, he said the effort, however, might be constrained in terms of getting those with the capabilities such as data scientists in Malaysia.

He said Malaysia was capabable of developing such centres because it had a unique capability, wide area, suitable structure and could offer incentives.

Najib said the development would also result in the country needing thousands of data scientists in the future.

The Prime Minister said he had also met several Malaysian companies which had transformed and had morphed from being sited in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) (in Malaysia) to venturing into partnerships with their share-partners from the Silicon Valley, United States.

“To the extent their products can now be sold in the global market,” he said.

He said the companies were PULSATE Sdn Bhd, INTEL Corporation, Revolution Analytics Inc, MOL Global Pte Ltd, Rixty Inc, Joota Ventures Sdn Bhd, BrandX Development LLC and XYBASE MSC Sdn Bhd.

To expand further the innovation culture, Najib said companies which sought to implement innovations but in the end encountered failure should not be penalised because innovation was encouraged as a normal culture practiced in the Silicon Valley.

He said their failures were sometimes caused by their bravery in trying something new and sometimes the causes were beyond their control. — Bernama

(Source: http://www.theborneopost.com)

PM: MSC firms going global

SAN FRANCISCO (Sept 24, 2013): Several Malaysian companies have morphed from being sited in the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) in Malaysia to venturing into partnerships with their share partners from the Silicon Valley, United States.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said they had transformed to the extent that their products can now be sold in the global market.

He said the companies were PULSATE Sdn Bhd, INTEL Corporation, Revolution Analytics Inc, MOL Global Pte Ltd, Rixty Inc, Joota Ventures Sdn Bhd, BrandX Development LLC and XYBASE MSC Sdn Bhd.

To further expand the innovation culture, Najib said companies which sought to implement innovations but in the end encountered failure, should not be penalised because innovation was encouraged as a normal culture practised in the Silicon Valley.

Bernama quoted him as saying that their failures were sometimes caused by their bold attempts to try something new and sometimes the causes were beyond their control.

Najib: I want to make corruption part of Malaysia's past

SAN FRANCISCO: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says he wants to make corruption part of Malaysia's past, not its future.

Speaking at the Commonwealth Club Lecture here on Monday, Najib said this meant changing organisational as well as business cultures.

"I have created a new governance and integrity minister role in the cabinet; it is held by the former president of the Malaysian chapter of Transparency International," he said.

Najib said his government had elevated Malaysia's anti-corruption agency - which answers annually to a parliamentary special committee on corruption, an independent advisory board, and a complaints committee - to self-regulated, independent commission status.

"It is our hope that the commission serve as an example for other countries looking to build the institutional capacity to combat corruption," he said.

After all, said the prime minister, for governance and commerce alike, the most vital currency was trust.
"If we deliver what we have promised to the people - in this instance, a concerted fight against corruption - and deliver consistently over time, that currency will appreciate.

Najib opens Khazanah office in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officiated Khazanah Nasional Berhad's regional office for the Amerikas, Khazanah Americas Incorporated (KAI), in San Francisco Sunday.

He hoped that the opening of this office would help propel Malaysia into a developed nation status by the year 2020.

The Prime Minister said Malaysia's visionary ambitions to reach a developed nation status by 2020 could be achieved by moving up the value chain and creating an economy driven by knowledge, innovation and technology.

Najib said this when officiating the office located at the 45th Floor, 101 California Street, San Francisco, the third Khazanah's regional office after Beijing and Mumbai.

Also present were his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek; Second Education Minister Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh; Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin; Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin and Director, San Francisco Mayor's Office of International Trade and Commerce Mark Chandler.

Najib: Don’t just criticise, be pro-active

SAN FRANCISCO: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has chided certain groups of Malaysians living abroad, who only know how to criticise the government, but do not contribute to the country.

The groups, he said, should not be making negative criticisms about the country by basing their criticisms on certain allegations spun by certain quarters for their own political reasons.

“These people will criticise the country, but they do not have any idea on how to contribute to the country,” he told a dinner gathering attended by Malaysian citizens and students, at the Grand Hyatt San Francisco Hotel here on Sunday night.

“We don’t mind the criticisms, but do not believe them,” he said, adding that he believed they (the citizens and students) had the ability to think and decide for themselves whether the allegations were true or otherwise.

Najib said there were a lot more Malaysians living abroad who were economically active, having good strategies, very enterprising and they were usually doing well.

“I have met and talked to some of them, and they are very proud to be Malaysian,” he said.

He said Malaysia had been very successful and come a long way in terms of development, from the small agriculture-based economy it used to be, to where it was now.

Najib tweets live from Twitter HQ

KUALA LUMPUR - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today tweeted from the Twitter headquarters at Silicon Valley in San Francisco.

In his posting, tweeted at 2.05am (Malaysian time), he said: "Great session at Twitter HQ. A wonderful platform to engage with Malaysians and the Global Community."

He also met Twitter chief executive officer Dick Costolo.

Najib is on a three-day working visit to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Yesterday, he opened Khazanah Americans Inc. This will be the latest overseas representatives office of Khazanah Nasional, the Malaysian government's investment arm, after its offices in Beijing, China and Mumbai, India.

The prime minister, accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor will have several events during his visits, including dinner with the Malaysian community, including Malaysian students in and around the city.

Najib will also attend the third Global Science and Innovation Advisory Council meeting; seventh BIO-International Advisory Panel meeting and also touring the Google headquarters.

In his visit to Google, he will experience its driverless car, or Google car, as well as Google Glass, a computer worn as spectacles with an optical head-mounted display and voice commands.

(Source: http://www.malaysia-chronicle.com)