Najib pledges to continue to be responsible for national security, prosperity

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Monday pledged that matters of national security and prosperity would continue to be his responsibility as the Prime Minister.

He was grateful and thankful to the country's security forces for their efforts in ensuring that the nation was free from any act of terrorism last year.

"Don't think that it happened by itself but instead it was achieved through the determination and firmness of the government.

"This is what I want to say that matters of public security and prosperity is my responsibility as the Prime Minister. It is also a collective responsibility.

"We will not shirk from our responsibility but we give priority to the people of Malaysia," he said at the monthly assembly of the Prime Minister's Department.

Nonetheless, Najib expressed his sadness at the killing of a Malaysian national in southern Philippines.

On May 14, last year, electrical engineer, Bernard Then Ted Fen was among two victims abducted by four armed men from southern Philippines who were believed to be members of the Abu Sayyaf group at the Ocean King Restaurant, Sandakan, Sabah.

Last November, Then was confirmed to be cruelly murdered by the militant group.

Meanwhile, Najib said Malaysia achieved numerous successes last year including hosting the Asean Summit, which lifted the country's profile at the international level.

He said Malaysia was also chosen as a non-permanent member of the United Nations (UN) Security Council again and sat on the Executive Board of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco).

"Malaysia also achieved an economic growth rate of 5.1 per cent in the first nine months of last year with an inflation rate that was still low. We had the courage to introduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to replace the Sales and Services Tax (SST) in an effort to strengthen the country's financial position so that it would be more stable and firm.

"We also received a better rating in the World Economic Forum among 144 countries in the world and occupying the 18th spot which was an improvement from the 20th spot," he said.

In addition, Najib said the Fitch Ratings changed its prospects for Malaysia to stable.

"All these are successes which we can be proud of," he added.