1 Malaysia Wins Friends Among Bruneians

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam - There may have been some scepticism at home about the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but people outside the country appear to be attracted to it. This could be seen from the numerous questions on the concept posed to Najib during his two-day visit to Brunei which ended yesterday.

“I was frequently asked by the people here about the concept. It appears that they have been following developments in Malaysia,” Najib said.

He was speaking at a breakfast meeting with about 250 members of the Malaysian community at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Bruneians saw the concept as most appropriate to galvanise the people to work together for their common good.

“It (the 1Malaysia concept) is a way forward for us to enhance ethnic relations in Malaysia,” Najib said.

Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Deputy Foreign Minister Senator Kohilan Pillay.

Najib hoped that Malaysians in Brunei would embrace the concept as a guide to foster closer ties and understanding with the local people.

He said Malaysia and Brunei had always enjoyed a cordial relationship at the leaders-to-leaders and government-to-government level and that it should be translated to the ground by the people.

He advised Malaysians working or doing business here not to create any problem.

On his meeting with Sultan of Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah at Istana Nurul Iman on Wednesday, he said it was conducted in a cordial and friendly atmosphere.

“The meeting lasted longer than expected and this showed the good bilateral relations between both countries.”

The meeting, which saw the leaders discussing issues, including the demarcation of the Malaysia-Brunei land and maritime border, was scheduled for 30 minutes but last more than an hour.

The demarcation of the Malaysia-Brunei border, which Najib hoped could be completed soon, is considered crucial as it involved a territorial dispute over Limbang in Sarawak and waters of the continental shelf which is rich in oil and gas reserves.

During the meeting, Najib invited Brunei to invest in the Sabah Development Corridor, the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy and the Iskandar Development Region in Johor.

He said the investment opportunities were avenues for Malaysia and Brunei to strengthen economic ties.

Consistent with the desire of both countries to explore new areas of cooperation, Najib said he would be bringing a strong delegation to the annual consultation between Malaysia and Brunei here in early August.

Describing his brief visit as very meaningful, the prime minister said it had paved the way for a lasting and fruitful relationship between the two countries.

Brunei was the second Asean member country after Indonesia that Najib visited after his appointment as prime minister.

He returned home yesterday. The aircraft carrying Najib and his entourage arrived at the Royal Malaysian Air Force base in Subang at 3.25pm, reports Bernama.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my (1 May 2009)
Photo: http://afnizarmohd.wordpress.com

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