theSun | MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14 2009
news without borders
Najib: People decides
BN’s continuity in govt
TAWAU: In Malaysia’s parliamentary demo-
cratic system, it is the power of the people
that will determine Barisan Nasional’s (BN)
continuity in government, said Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
So, he said, to ensure that BN continued
to receive the mandate to rule this country, it
must be fair to all citizens regardless of race
and religion.
“This is because if we can protect the
rights of all races and be fair to all, then the
people will be with us and this is also the BN
government’s principle.
“We will consider the interest of all groups
so that no group feels it is being marginalised
or hurt, instead, each group, each community
is taken care of the best possible through the
BN government’s policies.”
Najib said this before about 15,000 people
from various ethnic groups at a breaking of
fast and handing-over of charity contributions
to orphans and the poor here.
Also present were Chief Minister Datuk
Seri Musa Aman, Rural and Regional De-
velopment Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie
Apdal, other BN component party leaders
and former Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun
Sakaran Dandai.
Najib said the principle of fairness outlined
in 1Malaysia was also in line with Islam
which taught its followers to be fair to all
communities and religions.
He said the 1Malaysia concept mooted
by him was also in line with what Prophet
Muhammad practised when he established
the government of Medina with Islam as the
Alternative passport to have
similar features
by Husna Yusop
newsdesk@thesundaily.com
BANGI: The alternative international
Malaysian passport will have exactly the
same security features as the current passport
although it is valid for a shorter period and
costs less.
In dispelling fears that the new travel
document would lack security features as
compared to present international Malaysian
passport, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hisham-
muddin Hussein said they were the same.
“(It is just that) instead of five years, we
are reducing (the validity) to two years, (and
instead of RM300 or RM600,) we are reduc-
ing the price to RM100. It makes sense. It’s
logical.
“It doesn’t cost the government any much
more, nor will it mean that we are reducing
the quality of the passport.
“It’s the same passport but related to the
more practical consideration of people who
do not use the passport that often,” he said
yesterday.
Speaking to reporters after launching the
new bright blue uniform for Civil Defence
Department members at the Civil Defence
Training Academy here, Hishammuddin
Fiesta M’sia to be held in Melbourne
MELBOURNE: Student leader Aida Zabidi
has taken some time off from her studies to
help prepare the biggest Malaysian student
cultural show here, the Fiesta Malaysia Mel-
bourne, on Sept 27 at the Federation Square.
As project manager of the annual fiesta
that has attracted thousands of Australians
and Malaysians in the past, Aida has the
huge task of overseeing the preparation for
the event that has grown from a small begin-
ning in 2006 to an extravaganza, showcasing
Malaysia’s cultural and ethnic heritage.
“This year’s Fiesta Malaysia has become
part of Malaysia Week - a combination of
events that promote Malaysia through arts,
culture, traditional dances, cuisine, exhibition
5
pillar of the administration.
“At the same time, the Prophet was fair to
all the communities in Medina, he protected
the minorities and gave religious freedom to
the non-Muslims.
“If we look at the 1Malaysia concept, the
essence is fairness which is based on the
principles of mutual respect and accepting di-
versity as our strength and not as a problem.
“If we accept diversity as our strength,
then our country will become even more
successful and dynamic in future.”
Najib, who is also Umno president and
BN chairman, also reminded BN component
party leaders to be closer to the people and
not just being popular among party leaders.
He said there was no point in only being
popular, even if one was the party president,
but the party lost, and in this regard, the BN
government under his leadership would get
close to the people.
Najib said he started going to the ground to
be close to the people when he took over the
helm of government and wanted the other BN
leaders to do the same.
“I’ve gone to several places to meet the
people. As leaders, if we go visiting without
protocol and without the red-carpet welcome,
the bunga manggar or any special reception,
but we sit down with the people over drinks
and hear their problems, the people will
remain with us.”
On Sabah which he had all this while re-
garded as BN’s “fixed deposit”, Najib said he
wanted Sabah to continue strengthening itself
to really be BN’s stronghold. – Bernama
said the new passport will incorporate all
the security features present in the existing
passports, and these may even be enhanced
further.
The minister was clarifying his announce-
ment on Saturday, that starting from Oct
1, Malaysians can apply for an alternative
passport which is valid for two years and
costs RM100 only.
Currently, a 32-page passport costs RM300
and a 64-page one costs RM600. Both are
valid for five years.
Hishammuddin had said currently, only
those going for the haj pilgrimage could
apply for an alternative passport, but the
government wanted to expand its usage as
there were many people who travelled rarely
and did not want to pay so much for travel
documents.
Explaining the security features, he said
the government was working together with
the United Kingdom to discuss ways to further
tighten certain aspects of the passport.
“I am not in the position to announce it
now. We are discussing it right now and
we are looking at benchmarking it with the
international level,” he said, adding once the
security feature is upgraded, it will also be
applied to the new passport.
and tourism,” said Aida, a fourth-year medical
student at the University of Melbourne.
It is going to be a big day for the Malaysian
students, she said.
Student organisations such as the
Malaysian Students Council of Australia and
Kelab Umno Australia Melbourne, as well
as Malaysian associations and clubs, at the
various universities in the state of Victoria,
are playing important roles to make the event
a success.
“Attending the fiesta will be the deputy
Malaysian high commissioner in Canberra
(Ahmad Fadil Shamsuddin), the mayor of
Melbourne and the Victorian state minister
for multiculturalism,” Aida told Bernama.