BANGI • Malaysia may not be a perfect nation, but it is by no means a "failed state", says Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Datuk Seri Najib told the International Wasatiyyah Seminar 2015 - titled "Islam and the Younger Generation: Challenges and Hopes" - yesterday that when reports like The Global Islamic Economy Indicator 2014-2015 recognised Malaysia as a top Muslim nation, it was wrong to label it as a failed nation.

"We have been called a failed state. Some called us a rogue nation. But is this the true image of Malaysia?" he said.

A columnist writing recently for the US-based magazine The Diplomat said that Malaysia was fast becoming a "rogue" nation and a "failed state" due to alleged corruption in the administration, despite its leaders' repeated pledge to address the problem, said The Malay Mail Online.

It added that The Diplomat column - "Going Rogue: Malaysia and the 1MDB scandal" - claimed the controversy over 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) showed how many of the country's key institutions have lost credibility as they are deemed to have been "co-opted" to help keep the Barisan Nasional coalition in power.

But Prime Minister Najib hit back yesterday: "It is quite ironic, when this 'failed state' topped the Global Islamic Economy Indicator 2014-2015, an independent study that is not influenced by our government.

"The research covers 70 Muslim countries and looks into the quality of the overall Islamic economy eco-system.

"The study says Malaysia leads by a large margin. Our Islamic economy system is also said to be the most mature, and so is our halal industry," Mr Najib said .

The Prime Minister added that even though the country is small, in aspects of Islamic finance, Malaysia is ahead of many other nations.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK