Malaysia Safe, Don't Listen To Rumours, Says PM

Country Safe, Don't Listen To Rumours, Says PM

KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, saying that Malaysia was peaceful and safe, advised the people not to be worried or be swayed by rumours that the country was in a state of emergency.

The prime minister said the country's economic and security situations were under control and people need not get overly excited about what was happening. "We are not in a state of emergency. This government is a stable government, please believe it. "The security of the country is still under control, and everything is under control. We know what is happening, and the country will remain peaceful and safe," he told reporters after chairing the first meeting of the implementing authority of the Northern Corridor Economic Region (NCER) at his office at Parliament House, here.

Abdullah responded thus after he was asked about the economic and security situation in the country. Abdullah said the government would act if there were problems, including in the implementation of projects. However, currently, everything was proceeding smoothly, including the government administration and the implementation of projects, he said. Asked for his comment on the assumption that the ongoing police-military joint exercise was in anticipation of a state of emergency, Abdullah said it should not be seen as something which could spark anxiety in the people. "I don't think anybody should worry. I just want to say this. They (army and police) can have any joint exercise they want to. They want to coordinate. This is not to be treated and regarded as something that we need to worry about," he said.

Abdullah said slanderous statements were being hurled at one another freely and everyday there emerged news which could cause "sadness, fear, worry and lack of confidence" in the people. "What is this? A new politics? Perhaps, it is. I have been in politics for 35 years. I have never seen anything like this. So, the people are never at ease, and are hearing absurd stories. "They listen, and then they believe them, quite easily. Our people are very gullible. They listen to the stories and they are confused. They listen to the stories and they exaggerate. Then they make their own spin and then it becomes worse, not better. "There are too many rumours. There are all kinds of rumours. These shrewd people are making up the stories, to confuse the people... making slanderous statements," he said.

Abdullah also refuted assumptions that the country was in a state of prolonged instability. "Not prolonged. Not prolonged. Are you asking me to make an assumption?" he said. On political stability, Abdullah said he did not want to adopt an attitude of self denial, as though nothing was happening in Umno. However, he said, the "goings-on" in the party were not happening for the first time and that they would occur every time the Umno elections were held. "This is a normal happening. The second thing is the issues in parliament whereby parliament is active and lively, and the people are able to follow. That cannot be assumed as leading to political instability," he said.

Abdullah said the people get information on the rallies planned here and there by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which might cause uneasiness among some of the people. "But when this happens, people become fearful. I am also surprised why this is happening. I do not want to make assumptions and it would lead to interpretations unfavourable to the market sentiment. "However, I want to make it clear that the situation is peaceful and under control. I mean every word I say," he said. -- BERNAMA