PM We need to make M'sia safer

PETALING JAYA: The Prime Minister wants more effort put in to enhance public safety.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said although the crime rate in the country had decreased, more measures were needed to ensure that the people were safer.

"We are concerned with all kinds of violence, including those against women. The general crime rate has fallen but more has to be done to ensure that the rakyat feel more secure," he said.

He was responding to a question by a member of the public - nicknamed "All For The Road" - who had asked the Prime Minister's views on the recent violent crime involving women, during an online chat via NST Live for over an hour.

Asked about Malaysia's economic outlook for the rest of the year and 2013, Najib said he remained "cautiously optimistic" because it was resilient, thanks to the Government Transformation Programme and Economic Transformation Programme.

Nevertheless, he said, there were "downside risks" to the global economy that should not be ignored.

To questions if there would be a second round of Bantuan Rakyat 1 Malaysia (BRIM) aid and if this would be more than RM500, Najib, who is also Finance Minister, said he would only decide after looking into the Government's cashflow while ensuring fiscal discipline at the same time.

Asked on the setting up of the Lynas plant in Gebeng, Najib said: "We have to go through the process of convincing the people that the plant will be safe."

He said the Government had not made a final decision yet on Lynas and would not do so until the people would feel that nothing untoward would happen to them. Before ending the chat, the Prime Minister said his engagement with the public had been "refreshing" and that it made him want to do more for the people and the country.

The Prime Minister's online chat with the public can be viewed in full on http://www.nst.com.my/nstlive. We have to go through the process of convincing the people that the Lynas plant will be safe. - DAIUK SERI NAJIB TUN RAZAK

Reaching out to the masses: Najib chatting with the people during the session as News Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Bhd group managing editor Abdul Jalil Hamid looks on.

-Bernama

Resource: The Star, Page: 4

Date: Wednesday, 13 June 2012