Najib tells BBC that Muslim nations can copy Malaysia
February 24, 2011
Najib: In case of Malaysia, it is very much like Turkey. Without having to blow our own trumpet, we have a modern system, much like Turkey.
ISTANBUL, Feb 24 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia has proven that its system of governance, based on moderate Islam, has worked and can be a good model for other countries in the world to emulate, especially Islamic countries.
He said in view of what was taking place in the world today, it was important to ensure that the system of administration adopted was working.
The key consideration, he said, was that “if you have a system, would it work to produce good and effective governance?”
Najib said this as a panellist at the Global Movement for Justice, Peace and Dignity Conference, here, Wednesday.
The session was recorded by BBC World News to be aired by the channel at a later date. It was moderated by BBC journalist Zeinab Badawi.
The other panellists included Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Paramadina University of Indonesia president Dr Anies Baswedan and Arab Business Council co-founder/vice-chairman Khalid Abdulla-Janahi.
Najib said a good and effective governance could deliver the goods and services to the people.
“A good system allows the people to participate in the system, it empowers the people to decide their own destiny.
“In case of Malaysia, it is very much like Turkey. Without having to blow our own trumpet, we have a modern system, much like Turkey.
“Therefore, we can offer the Malaysian model because it has worked. From a relatively poor nation whose economy was based on agriculture, we have moved to industrialising the economy.
“Now, we have planned initiatives for the next phase. We have a very detailed roadmap of transformation. The next wave of transformation is to become a high-income nation,” said Najib.
He said the success of a system was not just about numbers but also about whether it could improve the quality of life, and about good values, ensuring fairness, rule of law, being inclusive, having social safety net and caring for the poor.
“These are the things that we have put in place in Malaysia. So, in this regard, I believe we have something to offer to the world.”
Nevertheless, he said, every nation would have to look at its needs based on its own peculiarities and had to make adjustments to the values, to empower the people to a more prosperous and better future.
When asked by Zeinab Badawi whether the Malaysian model was a better model for an Islamic country than the Turkish, Najib’s response which drew laughter from the audience was, “I have to be careful on this as I am in Turkey.”
The Malaysian prime minister said it was an important thing for Malaysia to choose its own destiny.
“And the way we have developed our political structure is that Islam plays an integral part in the country’s policies and administration.
“We cannot separate Islam from the government in Malaysia. But having said that, it is also Islam that is moderate that we apply in Malaysia. For example, Islam in Malaysia is not associated with violence, Islam in Malaysia is benign and that is being practised by and large,” he added.
The conference was jointly organised by the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia and International Movement For A Just World (JUST) in conjunction with Najib’s three-day official visit to Turkey from Feb 21-23. — Bernama
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