PARIS: The younger generation has been urged to “save the country” by embracing change for the better, while frowning upon the ills affecting the society and upholding values which make Malaysians proud.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the youth are vital in ensuring that the weak are represented, the call for good governance kept alive, corruption is addressed, while championing unity and harmony.
“I am a reformer and Malaysia has to change for the better. She has to be rid of corruption.
“There are many youth here (in France), but do think about coming home and helping to make that change,” the Prime Minister said at a dinner with the Malaysian diaspora on Thursday night in conjunction with his official visit to France.
“I urge the youth here and Malaysian youth elsewhere to hang on to our values and have patience. And do send out the Malaysian message to the world,” he added.
Anwar said it was time for Malaysia to really move forward and stand together as a nation.
“This is important to me, otherwise I will not be able to lead effectively. I need the people to trust me,” Anwar said, adding: “We may have different shades of skin colour, but we have so much in common. This, I speak with passion.”
Earlier, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said Malaysia had been looking to partner France in modernising the Malaysian armed forces.
He said that in the next two years, Malaysia hoped to acquire new military assets, including littoral combat ships and helicopters, among other things.
Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman expressed pleasure in the French Supreme Court’s dismissal of multiple challenges by alleged heirs of the defunct Sulu sultanate.
This meant the initial basis for the final award, which tried to make Malaysia pay them US$15bil, had not been recognised by the French courts.
However, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reforms) revealed there was yet another challenge in court on Monday, adding: “Pray for Malaysia, that the other side will pay the price for trying to attack us.”
This was met by thunderous claps of support by the 100-odd attendees.
On his part, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan likened the role of ministers today as that of bankers.
“Bankers of old could afford to sit in their offices attending to clients who come to them.
“Not anymore.
“Bankers of today need to get out of the office to look for clients,” he said.
