Najib: Running down the country equivalent to economic sabotage

KUALA LUMPUR: The running down of the country is nothing less than economic sabotage for selfish political gain and it is not the opposition politicians who will suffer but ordinary Malaysians, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak.
He said the Aramco-Petronas deal worth US$7 billion (RM31 billion) was almost wrecked by fake news.
"Many people would not expect a former leader to tell lies about his own country. So when he tells people that Malaysia is facing bankruptcy, some believe him," Najib said when presenting his keynote address at the 2017 Global Transformation Forum today.
He added that the government's opponents often prefer not to engage the government on facts but instead create false propaganda - like the idea that this is a state on the verge of bankruptcy - some of which sadly gains traction internationally.
"The truth is the very opposite, millions of jobs have been created and there has been strong and consistent growth," the prime minister said while citing the example of Osram's additional investment of RM1.4 billion to create the largest 6-inch LED chip production in the world and Aramco's investment of US$7 billion.
Najib said countless measures have been put in place to ensure the nation's continued transformation into an innovative, knowledge-based economy, with sustainability and inclusivity at its core.
"I'm not saying that everything is perfect. There are some downside risks and challenges- such as managing household debt, the need to improve productivity and move up the value chain, and the problem of household savings not being sufficient.
"But we will address these head on with appropriate measures," the prime minister said.
He said the government's work is not done yet as it has recently set a new goal under the 2050 National Transformation plan, for Malaysia to be a top 20 country by the year 2050.
Najib ended his speech by urging all Malaysians to come together in the spirit of Negaraku - our country, our nation - and unite to continue building the Malaysia that we all want.