At the recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Singapore, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak scored high marks with the delegates with his grasp of international and economic issues
IT is barely eight months since Datuk Seri Najib Razak rose to the helm of the government, but the country's sixth prime minister has already stamped his mark on the international stage with his grasp of international and economic issues.
At the just-concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Singapore, not only did his bold moves to liberalise the economy catch the eye of many and were amply lauded, Najib also made an impact with the business community in the Apec business dialogues.
At the Apec CEO summit attended by 1,500 top international and regional business leaders, Brunei's Economic Development Board chairman Datuk Paduka Timothy Ong, who chaired the dialogue, remarked that Najib had "scored high marks with the delegates".
"His presentation was one of quality, confidence and he was a very skillful performer," Ong said after the prime minister presented his views at the dialogue themed "Is the Global Crisis Really Over?"
"He had a lovely sense of humour," Ong said of the 56-year-old British-educated Najib, the son of second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, who was attending the Apec meet for the first time as premier.
At the dialogue, one participant asked Najib what made him think that his stimulus package to revive the economy would work.
Reflecting his confident demeanour and no-nonsense approach, the soft-spoken Najib said emphatically: "Well, it had better work. Otherwise, you won't see me around for too long."
His spontaneous reply drew loud laughter from the hundreds of people comprising top business leaders and captains of industry among the packed audience at the Suntec International Exhibition and Convention Centre.
The Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Council co-chairman and US East-West Centre president Dr Charles Morrison said Najib clearly made a strong impression on the audience, who liked to see determination, confidence, honesty and the touch of modesty that the prime minister portrayed.
"In short, it was a master class in effective communication," Ong added, referring to Najib's clear and articulate presentation.
Morrison said Najib took questions and answered them with warmth and humour.
When Ong asked all the panellists, including World Bank president Robert Zoellick, to end their presentation with a short statement on how to mend the global economy, Najib succinctly said: "Externally, free trade, more free trade, and, domestically, a new economic model."
Najib summed it up well. When the leaders of the 21-member Asia-Pacific economies ended their meeting, the grouping declared their support for free trade and open markets, adding that there was a need for a new economic growth model to take the region into the 21st century global economy.
Morrison said the prime minister "seems very comfortable with his position as a leader".
Since taking over from Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Najib has been on the radar screen of the business community, both in Malaysia and internationally.
The community is watching closely Najib's bold and far-reaching economic reforms -- liberalising a wide range of sectors in the domestic economy, issuing new banking licences for foreigners and relaxing regulations with respect to Bumiputera equity, opening up Malaysia's market and providing boosts to the economy.
For that, Ong described Najib as a "reformist", but when asked later about how he felt about that description, the prime minister said "never mind", adding that it was Ong's personal opinion.
Malaysia, which relies heavily on exports, has been hard hit by the recent global financial crisis, and is trying to pull itself out of the economic doldrums.
Najib, who is also finance minister, told participants of the Apec dialogue that he would push hard to ensure that Malaysia achieved five per cent economic growth next year, two per cent more than an earlier estimate by the government.
He said his administration would unveil a new economic model for Malaysia by year-end, one that would identify new sources of growth to ensure that the country achieved a growth rate higher than three per cent post-crisis.
The prime minister and his ministers -- International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed and Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah -- also stressed the importance of free and fair trade.
Malaysia's position was made clear to US leaders when Mustapa and Husni, in their bilateral meetings with Trade Representative Ron Kirk and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, reiterated the prime minister's message.
Najib told the audience that he had been saying it privately and wanted to state it openly that what he liked about former president George W. Bush was his "very pro-free trade" policy.
"I hope the same message will be repeated in Singapore and the leaders will see to it that the Doha Round is completed next year," the prime minister said to loud applause.
The remarks made headlines on the news wires and online news portals.
The prime minister demonstrated his strong grasp of the economy and international trade, adding that the old paradigm of "manufacture in the East, consume in the West" that worked for Malaysia for many years was no longer practical.
The new economic model would be based on innovation, new sources of growth, structural changes and strengthening domestic demand.
Obama praised Malaysia for maintaining regional peace and security.
The US president acknowledged the role played by Malaysia in tackling terrorism as the intermediary in resolving the conflict in Southern Philippines, maintaining security in the Straits of Malacca and checking human trafficking.
All in all, Malaysia looks set to head back to the forefront, with Najib providing fresh impetus to the country's leadership with bold moves. Malaysia will definitely be in the international arena.
One renowned Malaysian businessman, who left the CEO summit after Najib ended his dialogue session, was overheard saying: "I am proud to have Najib as my prime minister."
Meanwhile, president of the Kuala Lumpur Business Club, Datuk Rohana Mahmood, said the audience also took cognisance of his deep knowledge on finance with many remarking that as finance minister "he knows his stuff".
Najib's insightful responses to the issues at the summit made him a "star of Apec", despite it being his first attendance as prime minister, she said. -- Bernama