KUALA LUMPUR: The country can achieve higher economic success in the future with support from the Chinese community towards federal government's transformation policies.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government has always recognised the contribution of the Chinese community in developing the economy, and hopes that they will continue to strive into success.
"As a government, we have always recognised the contributions of the Chinese community in Malaysia's economic development, in particular the Chinese Hokkien community which represents the vast majority of the successful entrepreneurs and corporate figures in this country.
"I believe 80 per cent of the top 10 successful entrepreneurs in this country are Hokkien, and also the vast majority of Tan Sri awarded to the Chinese community are Hokkien.
"This is indicative of the special qualities that the Chinese of Fujian community had been able to display, particularly their work ethics. I believe they are very hardworking and very entrepreneural.
"So, my congratulations to the Hokkien community. And I hope that you will continue to be as entrepreneural and innovative as possible, so that we can bring Malaysia to the next level of growth and development," said Najib in his speech at the Malaysian Fujian Exemplary Leaders and Outstanding Entrepreneurs Awards dinner, here tonight.
Najib said the country aspire to be one of the world's leading economies, and that he believed Malaysia can achieve much more in the future with the Chinese believing and supporting the national transformation policy.
He said the people must also be mindful to be innovative and creative, as the country can not depend on natural resources as much as it used to be.
In his speech, Najib also reminded that the people must also ensure the country is ruled by a government that is moderate.
"I can give you the undertaking that the current Barisan Nasional government in power will continue with our moderate policy, so that we can appeal to all ethnic groups in the country.
"We must ensure there is a fair government, we must ensure it is an inclusive government. And we must ensure the government can represent the aspirations of all communities," he said, citing the government's supports towards vernacular schools in the country as an example of how fair and just the current BN government is.
Touching on Malaysia's cultural diversity, Najib said it is a source of strength for the country if all Malaysians appreciate and harness it together.
He said the recent Kuala Lumpur 2017 Sea Games was an example of national unity that Malaysians must work towards, where all citizens came out in big numbers to support the country's athletes regardless of their ethnicity.
"I am confident that this spirit of togetherness will ensure that Malaysia will progress even further, because the basis of our succeeding will be national unity.
"We must have a sense of togetherness and a sense of pride for being Malaysians. We must feel that when a Malaysian sportsman wins, we all win. And that is the feeling we all must have. We must be proud to be Malaysian, and wants to see all Malaysians succeed."
The event saw 62 Malaysian Hokkien outstanding entrepreneurs and exemplary leaders from various fields receiving awards delivered by Najib.