Najib: NTP helped the poor, put women at helm of large firms

Progress update: Najib addressing the audience at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Shah Alam.

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak paid tribute to Malaysians whose lives have been touched by the positive impact of the National Transformation Programme.

In his speech at the launch of the 2016 NTP annual report, the Prime Minister singled out Paddy Sidung from Kampung Patung, Tebedu, Sarawak, who benefited from the Azam Tani project.

Under the project, Paddy planted sweet corn that allowed him to raise his income.

Najib cited Paddy’s case as one example of the many Malaysians, especially from the bottom 40% household group (B40), who benefited from development brought by the NTP’s initiatives such as Azam Tani.

The NTP’s target of getting 100 multinational corporations to operate in Kuala Lumpur as their regional operations centre by 2020 brought many benefits to our workers, said Najib.

A case in point is Anniza Soh, from Tawau, Sabah, who works in Schlumberger, an international oilfield services company.

“Her determination to continue to give her services to her country Malaysia should be exemplified,” said Najib.

With women’s participation in the economy a key concern, Najib pointed to Datuk Mohaiyani Shamsudin, who became the first woman to be appointed as the chairman of Maybank.

Her appointment is in line with the NTP’s push to have 30% women in decision-making positions.

Another example was Datuk Dr Nirmala Menon, said the Prime Minister of the experienced corporate figure in the insurance and health services sectors. She has been appointed to the board of Khazanah Nasional Bhd.

Najib also congratulated Nor Fadhilah Mohd Ali who was appointed the chief financial officer of Telekom Malaysia, the first woman to hold the position.

“As I have always mentioned, women have always been regarded by the Government as partners in the development and progress of the country,” said Najib.