Najib: Environment and health issues must be given priority

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government is actively trying to strike a balance between environmental conservation and economic development, said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister said this was not an easy path for developing countries, noting that they were often more exposed and vulnerable to environmental threats.

"Integrating economic, health and environmental policies is easier said than done. It takes strong leadership to instil change, ensure a common vision and enhance cross-sectoral cooperation at the national, regional and global levels," he said in his address before launching the Third Ministerial Meeting of the Regional Forum on Environment and Health in Southeast and East Asian Countries on Tuesday.

Najib warned that it was increasingly clear that the environment could no longer be considered an afterthought to economic development, with nations facing common environmental health problems in a global economy.

He stressed that environmental and health issues must be a priority in formulating development plans.

Safety of M'sian students in Egypt remains a top priority: Najib

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 18, 2013): Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said the safety of Malaysian students in Egypt remains a top priority.

The Prime Minister in his tweet said that the government would undertake the necessary measures to bring them home safely.

"The safety of our students in Egypt remains a top priority. We will do what is necessary to ensure they can be brought home safe," he said.

Najib had reportedly directed that preparations be made to bring back Malaysian students who are pursuing studies in Egypt in view of the current developments in the country.

Meanwhile, Education Ministry and Wisma Putra in Egypt have set up a "safe home" to facilitate the evacuation of Malaysian students if the situation warrants it.

Bloody clashes erupted on Wednesday between supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and security forces after the forces moved to clear out protest camps at two major squares in Egypt set up by Morsi's loyalists demanding his return to power. – Bernama

(Source: The Sun Daily)

Waythamoorthy's Appointment Testimony To Najib Giving Priority To Indian Community

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 (Bernama) -- The MIC today lauded Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak's decision to appoint Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf)'s chairman P.Waythamoorthy as a deputy minister, saying that the prime minister was giving higher priority to the Indian community.

"Waytha had previously made extremely negative accusation at the PM and Barisan Nasional, but the very fact that the PM is willing to set aside all this shows that the PM puts the development of the Indian community above his own feelings," MIC strategic director S.Vell Paari said in a statement.

He said that it was a testimony that Najib was committed in his promise to uplift the socio-economic standard of the Indian Community.

Yesterday, the prime minister announced the post-election cabinet line-up that includes two ministers and four deputy ministers from the Indian community.

Besides MIC president Datuk Seri G.Palanivel who was appointed National Resources and Environment Minister and his deputy Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam as Health Minster, four others were appointed deputy ministers -- Datuk M.Saravanan (Youth and Sports), P.Kamalanathan (Education), Datuk Dr J.Loga Bala Mohan (Federal Territories) and P.Wyathamoorthy (Prime Minister's Department).

"As far as I am concerned, the more Indians holding government posts, the merrier," said Vell Paari, adding that MIC must restructure and revamp the party in terms of ideology, policy and approach to remain relevant to all Malaysians.


(Source: Bernama)