Merdeka!!

Its our National Day Celebration today!! Malaysia is now 51 years old.

A united people is the anchor to stability, harmony.

The true test of a country and its people is how its people react when the country is faced with trying times, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister said Malaysia was never free from challenges and obstacles but alhamdulillah (Thank God) each one was successfully overcome.

"Not did we overcome every one of the obstacles, but more than that, we have successfully developed the country to a level that we can be proud of.

"I am also confident and believe that we can again overcome every test that we are currently facing if we stand together, work hand in hand, with a strong determination and commitment to carry out our responsibilities.

"It is my desire that every Malaysian is able to truly inculcate and realise how important unity is among us all," he said Saturday in his 51st Merdeka Day address which was telecast over local TV stations.

He said a united people was the anchor that determined political stability, social harmony and economic resilience.

Abdullah noted that after the March 8 general election, the country had to deal with a food crisis and the fuel hike that caused the price of basic goods to rise as well as a higher inflation rate.

"All these are huge challenges to us and it might raise a lot of question and concern among the people as to whether we would be able to handle the situation.

"We will continue to combat the problem of rising prices and inflation in the best possible way. The Government is always concerned about the burden of the people, especially those who are poor and of a lower income group and those who are less fortunate," he said.

He added that the Government would continue to take measures when needed, and in any case it has already embarked on a number of initiatives to help the people adjust and to ease their financial burden.

Among them, he said, were measures he announced in his 2009 Budget speech on Friday, which includes extending and improving the social safety net and making more people more eligible to receive welfare assistance based on the current poverty level.

He said 110,000 households were now eligible for aid which was a two-fold increase, while the Government too would reduce the red tape so that people would get aid without too much bureaucracy.

He said the Government would also ensure adequate food supply at reasonable prices and food stock supply, more incentives to farmers and fishermen to increase supply and at the same time the Government would continue to provide subsidies for essential food items such as rice, flour, cooking oil and bread.

"Definitely, the Government will try all it can to ensure that the people's quality of life can be maintained as best possible even in today's challenging global economy," he added.

Abdullah said he was confident that the country was today on the right track to becoming a developed country, and that it would be able to compete and hold its own among other developed nations.

Other than economic achievements and reducing the gap between the rich and poor, he said, the Government had also focused on improving noble values such as integrity, a more open media, and strengthening institutions like the parliament, judiciary, the Anti-Corruption Agency, the police and the civil service.

"The Government cannot realise all these goals on its own. It really needs support from all parties, from the private sector, NGOs and especially the Malaysian public," he said.

Abdullah also said that the world really respected and was in awe of Malaysia because not many countries in the world with such a mix of races, could live together peacefully and harmoniously with full tolerance.

He nevertheless said the country still had a long way to go and there was still much that needed to be done.

"We want to be a developed country in our own mould; a developed country that promises a bright future for every one of its citizens without discrimination against race, religion and background.

"This is not impossible if each one of us unites and sets aside differences, prejudice and rises up as a people who have the resilience to face all enemies and challenges," he said.