BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Thurs:
THERE may have been some scepticism at home on the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but people outside the country appear to be attracted to it. This could be seen from the numerous questions on the concept posed to Najib during his two-day visit to Brunei which ended today.
He was speaking at a breakfast meeting with about 250 members of the Malaysian community in Brunei at the Empire Hotel and Country Club here.
Bruneians saw the concept as most appropriate to galvanise the people, irrespective of race and religion, to work together for their common good.
“It (the 1Malaysia concept) is a way forward for us to enhance ethnic relations in Malaysia,” Najib said.
Najib hoped that Malaysians in Brunei would embrace the concept as a guide to foster closer ties and understanding with the local people.
He said Malaysia and Brunei had always enjoyed a reliable and cordial relationship at the leaders-to-leaders and government-to-government level and that it should be translated to the ground by the people of both countries.
He advised Malaysians who were either working or doing business here not to create any problem.
On his meeting with Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman on Wednesday, he said it was conducted in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.
“The meeting lasted longer than expected and this showed the good bilateral relations between both countries,” Najib said.
The meeting, which saw both leaders discussing a range of bilateral issues including the demarcation of the Malaysia-Brunei land and maritime border, was scheduled for only 30 minutes but it lasted more than an hour.
The demarcation of the Malaysia-Brunei border, which Najib hoped could be completed soon, is considered crucial as it involved a territorial dispute over Limbang in Sarawak and waters in the continental shelf which is rich in oil and gas reserves.
During the meeting, Najib invited Brunei to invest in the Sabah Devlopment Corridor, the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy and the Iskandar Development Region in Johor.
He said the investment opportunities in the the development initiatives were avenues for Malaysia and Brunei to strengthen economic ties.
Consistent with the desire of both countries to explore new areas of cooperation, Najib said he would be bringing a strong delegation to the annual consultation between Malaysia and Brunei here in early August.
Describing his brief visit here as very meaningful, the prime minister said it has paved the way for a lasting and fruitful relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
Brunei was the second Asean country after Indonesia that Najib visited after his appointment as prime minister.
News by NSTOnline..
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