PUTRAJAYA - Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday launched a new slogan for his administration – called Malaysia Madani – which he said aims to bring the country forward.
The slogan followed those introduced by previous prime ministers, including Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) by Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, 1Malaysia by Najib Razak, and Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam) by Tun Abdullah Badawi.
Datuk Seri Anwar said in a speech that the concept’s main core are accountability and transparency, and he promised to help every Malaysian regardless of ethnicity.
Behind him on the stage in Putrajaya where he spoke were the words “Membangun Malaysia MADANI” (Developing Malaysia MADANI). The word “madani” in Arabic carries the general meaning of civilised or modern.
The premier said that the word Madani is the Malay acronym for Sustainability, Care & Compassion, Respect, Innovation, Prosperity and Trust, The Star daily reported.
Mr Anwar, who assumed the premiership two months ago, said he wants to reset the country’s attitude towards race and religion, a mainstay of Malaysian politics.
“Our country’s pillar is still the Malay majority and with an emphasis on the principles of Islam, the Malay language, and Malay rights, but we are a multiracial country.
“We do not want this country to be developed in a way where certain groups of the people, whether it is a minority race or the poor or those in rural areas or in Sabah or Sarawak, are still left behind,” he said, as quoted by Malaysiakini news site.
The country’s long-standing Bumiputera policy, which aims to uplift the Malay majority and other indigenous races, is widely seen today as hobbling Malaysia’s development and causing the migration of talent.
PM Anwar leads a multiracial coalition and is aware that he must corral higher Malay-Muslim support, including from the Malay-majority civil service, to strengthen his leadership.
“We want to ensure that while the economy will grow robustly, the people will not be forsaken and that the government is accountable in its service to the country,” said Mr Anwar, who became prime minister after November’s general election.
He added that for the 33-million-strong country to grow and move forward, past weaknesses must not be repeated. “If we can rectify mistakes, we can save the country and bring her back to her former glory,” he said at the launching at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre. The event was attended by Cabinet ministers and senior civil servants.
The launch also saw the unveiling of PM Anwar’s book titled Developing A Madani Nation, The Star reported.
The book among others features his ideas from his political experience and knowledge gathered from four decades of reading that began from his days as a student to leading the Reformasi movement.
On the Madani concept, PM Anwar said the government is introducing something holistic that will ensure development goes hand in hand with the interests and well-being of the people.
He said the Madani concept would see to it that growth would prioritise the people’s needs – especially those of the poor – so that they could be freed from poverty.
On racial unity, he said the leadership would protect the people from racism and put a stop to attempts to use identity politics to split the people.
“With the ability of political leadership and commitment of civil servants, I am confident that Malaysia can regain its good name on the world stage again,” he said.
