Malaysia continues to draw French investors

Let’s talk business: Najib walking with Ayrault upon the French Prime Minister’s arrival. — Bernama

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia continues to attract investments from French companies with the latest being a factory to manufacture aircraft components in Sendayan, Negri Sem­bilan.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the investments were evidence of the strong relationship between both countries.

Speaking at a joint press conference with French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault here yesterday, Najib described the investments as exciting.

He said the US$135mil (RM405) project was an investment to produce carbon discs for aircraft brakes for the entire Asian market.

“Then we have the biotech investment in Terengganu between Arke­ma of France and CJ CheilJedang of South Korea. These are two significant investments and we look forward to receiving more from French investors,” he said.

Najib and Ayrault earlier held an hour-long bilateral discussion where they agreed on the need to venture into new areas of co-operation, particularly in renewable energy, transportation and biotech.

Najib said the discussion also touched on defence co-operation, taking into account that the defence ministers from both countries would meet in December, to discuss more substantive issues.

Security, growth and welfare

Kota Kinabalu: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has outlined three thrusts that must be emphasised for Sabah within the next five years which he believed can be achieved with the existing cordial relationship between the Federal and State Government under Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

The first thrust was to ensure security, sovereignty and peace in Sabah. "The Lahad Datu incident must not be forgotten. We take proactive steps to prepare sufficient security personnel as well as our intelligence efficiency.

"We must place the right technology and in strategic places as well as new army camps to ensure people exposed to the threats will be able to sleep tightly at night," said the Prime Minister.

Speaking at the breaking of fast ceremony here, which was also his first official visit to Sabah after the 13th General Election, Najib said the Government through Esscom was also formulating a model for the resettlement of all coastal settlements in Sabah.

The second and third thrusts are to stimulate development in Sabah as well as ensure the people's welfare.
"We must ensure not only we bring progress but also take into consideration the people's welfare," he said.

Najib said all these are to be done with 1Malaysia as the pillar so that all the ethnic groups in Sabah would be able to feel development under the Barisan Nasional (BN).

PM's Policies, Programmes, Initiatives Benefit Society - Musa

KOTA KINABALU, July 27 (Bernama) -- Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said the various policies, programmes and initiatives introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has benefited the population from all strata of society.

He said it was evidence of the government's sincerity and earnestness in wanting to provide the best for the people.

"The 13th general election is over and the people had made their decision. In the context of Sabah, the majority has continued to express their support and confidence in the Barisan Nasional government under the prime minister's leadership," he said.

He said this here Saturday night, at a breaking of fast with Najib who is on a working visit to Sabah accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.

"We will double our efforts and work hard to live up to the mandate given to us and fulfill our pledges to the people who had stood by us," he added.

Musa describing Najib as a leader who was sensitive and committed to meeting the people's hopes and aspirations also expressed his gratitude to the prime minister for appointing six Sabah leaders as federal ministers and four others as deputy ministers.

(Source: Bernama)

PM: Military camp to be built at Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu

KOTA KINABALU: A military camp is to be built at Felda Sahabat in the east coast Lahad Datu district not far away from the site of the Sulu gunmen intrusion last February.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this was among the various measures needed to boost Sabah's security that included improving intelligence-gathering networks as well providing sufficient security personnel and deploying the latest technology.

The security boost was among the three priority areas for Sabah, the Prime Minister said at the breaking of fast with state Barisan Nasional component party leaders and members here Saturday.

He said the other thrusts for the state was accelerating development programes especially in rural areas apart from safeguarding the people's welfare and interests.

''In terms of development we realise Sabah has to play a catch up game. We want to see the development gap between the state and peninsula being reduced," Najib added.

''We will give due attention to Sabah and provide the necessary financial allocations within our capacity,'' the Prime Minister said.

Voicing his gratitude to Sabahans for giving the Barisan Nasional 22 of the 25 Parliament seats, Najib said the people had displayed their political maturity.

''Sabahans have shown that it is not simply a matter of changing the government but changing the lives of the people and this is what Barisan has done and will continue to do,'' Najib said.

(Source: The Star Online)

Umno Supreme Council elections on Oct 5 - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, July 26 (Bernama) -- Umno will hold its Supreme Council elections on Oct 5, simultaneously with the divisional delegates meetings nationwide, party president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced today.

He also said that the party's 2013 general assembly would be held over six days from Dec 2.

The national-level elections for the Wanita Umno, Umno Youth and Puteri Umno wings would be held on Sept 28, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the Umno Supreme Council, here.

Najib, who is the prime minister, said party members who wanted to contest posts in the supreme council, divisions and wings could register as candidates on Sept 7 with the state Umno liaison committees.

This is the first time that Umno will be enforcing amended provisions of the party constitution that enables about 150,000 grassroots members to elect the top leadership, and not restricting the elections to about 2,600 assembly delegates as was the practice up to now.

Najib said he hoped that the amended provisions of the party constitution would enable members to elect leaders who could place the party on a stronger foundation.

"We hope that the elected leaders are acceptable to the party and the people...we want leaders who are successful not only in the party but also in the general election as well.

"We hope that Umno can be accepted as the party of choice of the people. It is for this reason that we have to field leaders acceptable to the people and able to reflect a positive image," he said.

Najib also announced that the total number of Umno members as of now was about 3.4 million.

The number included new members totalling 113,959 as of July 22, making up ordinary members (9,043), Wanita Umno members (17,841), Umno Youth members (48,867) and Puteri Umno members (38,208), he said.

(Source: http://mysinchew.com)

Najib: Govt mindful of human rights in war against crime

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the government will do everything possible to tackle serious crimes in this country, but at the same time be mindful of possible transgression of human rights.

"The important thing is that I want to underscore the government's commitment to fight crime especially serious crimes and organised crime in this country," said the Prime Minister when asked on the controversial issue of preventive detention measures, which has received different reactions from the public.

Najib said the government would make an announcement on specific measures later.

Previously, Najib had said that views from various quarters would be taken into account in formulating a new law similar to the Emergency Ordinance (EO) 1969, which was repealed in 2011.

Earlier this month, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have said that following the repeal of EO, some of the 2,600 former detainees from the Simpang Renggam detention centre had returned to a life of crime.

He also said that he was currently discussing a draft of a new law with Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail. - Bernama

(Source: The Star Online)

Malaysia, Japan set on second wave of Look East Policy

PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Japan will continue the Look East Policy (LEP) - Second Wave which will be adjusted to suit the economic structure and priorities of both countries.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak who received a visit from his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe today, said the LPE should be more progressive with better focus and more economic-oriented.

"We have agreed that after 30 years of successful collaboration on the LEP, the next phase needs to be tailored for the economic transformation of both countries."

Najib said both governments have pledged to encourage more partnerships between Malaysian and Japanese companies in various fields including green technology, key technical services and institutional support among others.

"We encourage both sides to develop more targeted programmes with specific outcome to attain our countries' objectives through investments, trade, Islamic finance, technology, infrastructure development and promotion of the halal industry.

Najib Hosts Dinner In Honour Of Shinzo Abe

PUTRAJAYA, July 25 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Thursday night hosted an official dinner in honour of Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Seri Perdana, here.

Present were the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman and International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed.

Abe arrived here today on a two-day working visit to Malaysia in conjunction with his tour of Southeast Asia which also includes Singapore and the Philippines.

Najib in his speech before the dinner said: "It is rare that a leader gets to lend his name to an economic policy which is 'Abenomics' and over the past few months, Japan's resurgence has become real.

"Today, it is one of Asia's most important success stories, sending ripples across the region.

"Thirty years ago, Malaysian policymakers 'looked East', seeking inspiration from Japan's example, sending graduates to learn the principles and practices behind Japan's industrial success and welcoming Japanese investment into Malaysia.

Asian Firms To Take Centrestage At 9th WIEF In London

SINGAPORE, July 25 (Bernama) -- The upcoming 9th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) continues to see high levels of interest from potential delegates following the forum's launch on July 3, 2013.

Since its launch by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson in London, some 70 per cent of role players, including speakers and panelists have confirmed their participation to date.

Entitled 'Changing World, New Relationships', the 9th WIEF will be held on Oct 29-31, 2013 at Excel London, United Kingdom, and is the first time the event will meet outside the Muslim world.

The forum has previously been held in Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Kuwait and Pakistan.

Some 1,500 government leaders, captains of industries, academic scholars, regional experts, professionals and corporate managers from 100 countries will converge at the forum to boost trade partnerships between Islamic and European markets.

Business leaders from banks, infrastructure, technology, design and media companies from countries including China, UAE, Malaysia, USA, UK, South Africa, Japan, and Indonesia, as well as health and education experts will take part.

A special day for PM

(Source: The Star Online)