Monday December 10, 2007
PUTRAJAYA: Public safety will be the Government's top priority before public freedom and there will be no hesitation to take the stiffest action on irresponsible people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win. I will not sacrifice my sense of accountability to the greater public, especially in the face of police intelligence about planned fighting or other violent intent."
"We must never, ever take our peace for granted. We must continue to be responsible to each other," he said when addressing attendees listening to his speech as part of the Khazanah Global Lecture Series organised by Khazanah, the government's investment arm, which was moderated by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini.
Abdullah said responsibility was an integral value of the nation today as it was in 1957 or 1969.
Later during a question and answer session, he said, he had a duty to perform and that God knew that he was "still clean" and that he had no reason to change.
"If I were to sign a detention order under the ISA, I will do it without feeling any guilt because I have to do my duty," he said.
When asked on the steps taken by the Government to maintain racial harmony in the country, Abdullah said if anyone broke the law, he would deal with them by enforcing the law, advising certain quarters not to play the racial card to seek votes in the general election.
Stating that he was worried because voters are easily persuaded, Abdullah advised Malaysians to show the Government what they really want through the ballot box.
Abdullah also said that he had been the Prime Minister for only five years and not much could be expected from him, as there was a lot to do.
"Can't expect (me) to do it within five years of premiership. People are criticizing me, but things take time to grow. I want to succeed more than anyone else because I feel responsible," he said.
Earlier, when describing characteristics of a true Malaysian in his speech, he said, they would understand the impact of careless words and actions.
"A true Malaysian is acutely aware of who will be provoked into retaliation and who will actually suffer the consequences and will try to be judicious in word and deed, even when striving for change," he said.
PUTRAJAYA: Public safety will be the Government's top priority before public freedom and there will be no hesitation to take the stiffest action on irresponsible people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win. I will not sacrifice my sense of accountability to the greater public, especially in the face of police intelligence about planned fighting or other violent intent."
"We must never, ever take our peace for granted. We must continue to be responsible to each other," he said when addressing attendees listening to his speech as part of the Khazanah Global Lecture Series organised by Khazanah, the government's investment arm, which was moderated by Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini.
Abdullah said responsibility was an integral value of the nation today as it was in 1957 or 1969.
Later during a question and answer session, he said, he had a duty to perform and that God knew that he was "still clean" and that he had no reason to change.
"If I were to sign a detention order under the ISA, I will do it without feeling any guilt because I have to do my duty," he said.
When asked on the steps taken by the Government to maintain racial harmony in the country, Abdullah said if anyone broke the law, he would deal with them by enforcing the law, advising certain quarters not to play the racial card to seek votes in the general election.
Stating that he was worried because voters are easily persuaded, Abdullah advised Malaysians to show the Government what they really want through the ballot box.
Abdullah also said that he had been the Prime Minister for only five years and not much could be expected from him, as there was a lot to do.
"Can't expect (me) to do it within five years of premiership. People are criticizing me, but things take time to grow. I want to succeed more than anyone else because I feel responsible," he said.
Earlier, when describing characteristics of a true Malaysian in his speech, he said, they would understand the impact of careless words and actions.
"A true Malaysian is acutely aware of who will be provoked into retaliation and who will actually suffer the consequences and will try to be judicious in word and deed, even when striving for change," he said.
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