Exciting, Challenging For M'sian PM, Three Years In Office

By Jamaluddin Muhammad PHNOM PENH (Cambodia), April 4 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak described his three years in office as very exciting and full of challenges. "We have come a long way in the three years. When we started, we started from a position that was full of challenges, that is the political tsunami and there were lots of sceptism and cynisms. "But after three years, people have more trust and confidence in the government. (The) Rakyat (people) believed we can deliver and we have delivered," he told the Malaysian media during a press conference on Tuesday. Najib (front, second from left), who took office from his predecessor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, is here attending the first day of the two-day, 20th Asean Summit. He said macro figures looked very promising and the private sector had responded well. He said the foreign direct investment had reached a record high after 10 years, and a total of US$39.31 billion (RM120 billion) in investments were recorded in one year alone. He said the Gross Domestic Product had reached an all-time high and the government managed to reduce fiscal deficits. "All these indicate, we have created a fresh momentum over the years. Our GDP has been good. The NKRAs have exceeded target and the challenges would be to continue with the momentum because we have achieved much in the last three years. "Insyaallah (God-willing), give us another five years, we will deliver more," he said. Najib said he was surprised that it had been three years. "I feel gratified because the Cabinet has been very supportive. I could not have done it alone. My colleagues have supported me all along. "We have delivered on the promises we have made and that is important. When we promise, we deliver," he added. On the challenges he faced on the political front, Najib said the opposition would use every single issue possible, and they were not constructive to find solutions but to prolong issues until the next general election. "Their mindset is not to seek solutions but to create and prolong issues," he said. Earlier Najib received a surprise from the Malaysian Secretariat here to celebrate his three years in office. Also present were, Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor (front, left), Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI) Mustapa Mohamed (second from right), Foreign Minister Anifah Aman (back, fourth from left) and Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Maglin Dennis D'Cruz (back, third from left). (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA