Tribute to RT members
Najib salutes those who take part in neighbourhood watch groups
PUTRAJAYA: Those who have been giving their time and effort to maintain peace and unity through Rukun Tetangga (RT) or neighbourhood watch groups received a salute from Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“I am delighted to be amongst you, Malaysians who love and care for the nation, who strive to preserve the security and peace in the country.
“There are those who merely criticise, but to those who give their time and effort to keep the peace in our country, I salute you,” Prime Minister Najib said at a mega gathering of RT leaders and members at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
In paying tribute to those who contribute to neighbourhood watch, Najib said the concept of Rukun Tetangga stemmed from a voluntary spirit and willingness to sacrifice for the nation.
Among others present at the function were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, who is in charge of national unity and performance management, and Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor.
In his speech, Najib also called for more social institutions such as schools and families to play their roles in fostering national unity.
The RT concept was formally introduced by Najib’s father Tun Abdul Razak Hussein in 1975.
It was introduced as the Neighbourhood Watch Regulations 1975 under the Emergency Ordinance Act 1969 but has since been replaced with the Rukun Tetangga Act 2012.
Earlier, in his address to bumiputra economic non-governmental organisations, Najib who is also Finance Minister, said “rent seekers” had caused the failure to achieve 30% bumiputra equity in the country’s economy.
He said when rent seekers failed in their businesses, it inevitably derailed the target.
“It (the target) could have long been achieved and could even be higher if not because of the rent seekers. However, there has been some improvement as the bumiputra equity increased to 23% in 2010 from 21.9% in 2008.
“This is the result of the Government’s market-friendly policies and the move to offer business opportunities to bumiputra based on merit,” he said.