1Malaysia not Najib's burden alone, says Michael Chen

KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 -- The 1Malaysia concept envisioned by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak can only be realised through teamwork and not by the premier alone.

Former Dewan Negara Speaker Tan Sri Michael Chen said it could only be achieved if both the government and people put in efforts and show determination in nation-building to achieve that common goal.

He likened the process to winning a football match where to win, a team would need the commitment and support from not only the coach, but the players and supporters as well.

"We must have a common goal and the wisdom needed to achieve it," he said at a forum on 1Malaysia organised by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama)'s Centre of Excellence and Taima Journalism Academy, here, Thursday.

The forum was moderated by Bernama's deputy editor-in-chief Zulkefli Salleh.

Chen acknowledged that the road to achieving 1Malaysia was a lengthy one due to the many different races, religions and cultures.

He said the concept promoted by Najib was similar to that practised by the United States of America and Singapore, which was for every citizen to be treated fairly.

"Malaysians should understand that 1Malaysia is not only important to promote integration but also to take the nation to greater heights and to enable Malaysians to compete globally," he said.

Chen was confident that Najib could guide the nation into realising the 1Malaysia concept.

He said this was because Najib was like his father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who observed and learned from other developing and developed nations.

Chen said Najib also took over the country during a difficult time, as his father did, and now faced this Herculean task to turn the country around.

Abdul Razak took over from Tunku Abdul Rahman in 1969 after the May 13 incident, regarded as a dark period of Malaysian history where racial tensions were high.

When asked how Malaysians could contribute towards achieving 1Malaysia, Chen said they could start by cultivating a "saving mentality and culture" and spend frugally.

Besides that, a national school system could also be implemented to promote racial integration, he said.

-- BERNAMA