‘We prefer own unique development model’

The prime minister points out that the country does not copy 100% from the West or East.

PUTRAJAYA: Per capita income and the people’s well-being are the two main criteria used to measure the success of a country’s development model, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said that while per capita income was the conventional yardstick used elsewhere, Malaysia put forward a one-of-a-kind and more unique development model which took into account the “happiness index of the people”.

Both these aspects had to be scrutinised as the correlation between the two may not necessarily be positive, because there may be other factors or constraints which could cause dissatisfaction despite an increase in income, he said.

He cited factors such as traffic congestion and crime as examples, saying the two were definitely taken into account in determining the well-being or satisfaction index of the people.

“We try to formulate a one-of-a-kind and unique development model for this country. We do not copy 100% from the West or East, but must have the ability to come up with our own model, suitable for the people,” he said during the monthly gathering of the Prime Minister’s Department, at Dataran Perdana Putrajaya here, today.

From a macro indicator, this year, the second quarter of the economy grew by 5.4%, compared with 4.9% during the first quarter, and Malaysia emerged as the third biggest initial public offering (IPO) centre after the United States and China, said the prime minister.

Malaysian companies Felda Global Ventures Holdings and IHH Healthcare ranked the second and third largest IPOs on a global scale, he added.

Najib noted that the international media had also been covering Malaysia in a more positive light, with those who were previously critical appearing to be changing their tone and admitting that there were many positive changes and real development taking place in the country.

“I mention this because we have actually gained world recognition. But what’s the message here? The message is we must maintain the momentum and not let the transformation agenda lose steam; we must redouble our efforts,” he said.

Najib said civil servants played a very important role in implementing strategies to ensure the government’s development agenda was carried out as scheduled, was felt by the people, achieved its objectives and reached the targeted groups.

Najib said the recent Merdeka Day parade, which saw the participation also of the top civil servant, chief secretary to the government Dr Ali Hamsa, the various ministries’ secretaries-general, the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Forces, was most meaningful.

He said the willingness of these leaders to participate with the people in this symbolic gesture gave a clear message that the administration was willing to be with the people, understand their needs and work hard to fulfil their expectations in an honest and sincere manner.

-Bernama