My toes are already laughing, Mr Prime Minister

I can imagine all your toes painted with a smiley face. It's dancing to the tune of One Malaysia, when the Prime Minister, Dato' Sri Najib is quoted here:

The prime minister said the government must be able to resolve the people's problems, serve the people and bring about a renewal.

One year of complaint by a neighbour about Jalan Wangsa 2/6, and my daily follow-up reminder to najib@pmo.gov.my, sidek@pmo.gov.my, tam@pcb.gov.my, yet the complaints are still not being attended to.

Two weeks ago, I received an email with 15 civil servants being copied to look into the streetlight problem at the junction turning from the KTM overhead bridge above Jalan Kepong into Selayang-Kepong Highway. 15 civil servants, and I made it a point to copy the same top three persons to see if any actions are being taken. Till now, I have to say, "Nay!"

So, I have every reason to think that we will never achieve a daydreamer's so-called Government Transformation Plan. He is very much in a world of his own, unfazed by the reality of managing 1.2 million civil servants.

Published: Thursday September 16, 2010 MYT 4:54:00 PM
Updated: Thursday September 16, 2010 MYT 4:57:21 PM

PM: Govt transformation programme 'not a daydream'

"This is not an unattainable wish. It is something which we have planned carefully"

SANDAKAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has dismissed any notion that the transformation being implemented by the Government was a mere daydream or unattainable wish, saying it was a well thought out and carefully planned programme.

He said the renewal being undertaken under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), New Economic Model (NEM) and the 10th Malaysia Plan (2011-2015) was being implemented under the 1Malaysia spirit of "people first, performance now".

"This is not an unattainable wish. This is not a daydream. It is something which we have planned carefully.

"We conducted in-depth studies. We established various laboratories to discuss what we should do so that we can, God willing, bring about a great change to our beloved Malaysia," he said when addressing about 50,000 people at the launch of the Juara Rakyat (Champion of the People) programme and an Aidilfitri open house at the Padang Bandaran, here, Thursday.

Najib said the national administration was on a sound footing with a clear direction, strong cohesion and a track record of service to the people beyond compare.

He said the Government was courageously on track towards a huge transformation to prove it could provide something better and a fresh hope to Malaysians.

He said to achieve that vision, the Government needed the undivided support of the people.

"The dream of the people is to live in a progressive country, and they have hopes (to fulfill). As the Government, we give the people hope, not disappointment," he said.

On the Juara Rakyat programme, Najib said he wanted all Umno leaders not to merely speak of "going to the ground" during the programme but to remain on the ground at all times to be close to the people.

He said that in a parliamentary democracy, power was with the people and not at the end of a gun.

"As such, if we want to remain in power, then Umno and its partners in the Barisan Nasional must be the champion of the people.

"When we say we are the champion of the people, it means the people can depend on our party and we can look after them and ensure Malaysia remains prosperous," he said.

The prime minister said the government must be able to resolve the people's problems, serve the people and bring about a renewal. - Bernama