Public safety before public freedom will be the government's top priority and there will be no hesitation in taking the stiffest action against irresponsible people, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
“If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win.
“I will not sacrifice my sense of accountability to the greater public, especially in the face of police intelligence about planned fighting or other violent intent.
“We must never ever take our peace for granted. We must continue to be responsible to each other,” Abdullah said at the Khazanah Global Lecture Series organised by Khazanah, the government's investment arm.
He said responsibility was an integral value of the nation today as it was in 1957 or 1969.
At a question-and-answer session, Abdullah said he had a duty to perform and that God knew he was “still clean” and that he had no reason to change.
“If I were to sign an ISA detention order, I will do it without feeling any guilt because I have to do my duty.”
Asked on steps taken by the Government to maintain racial harmony, Abdullah said that if anyone broke the law, he would deal with them by enforcing the law.
He advised certain quarters not to play the racial card to seek votes in the general election.
Stating that he was worried because voters were easily persuaded, Abdullah advised Malaysians to show the Government what they really wanted through elections.
He said he had been the Prime Minister for only five years and not much could be expected from him as there was a lot to do.
“People are criticising me, things take time to grow. I want to succeed more than anyone else because I feel responsible,” he said.
Earlier, when describing the characteristics of a true Malaysian in his speech, he said the person would understand the impact of careless words and actions.
“A true Malaysian is acutely aware of who will be provoked into retaliation and who will actually suffer the consequences and will try to be judicious in word and deed, even when striving for change,” he said.
Abdullah said the various groups have their own set of demands and sensitivities and that true Malaysians would understand that the situation demanded balance, conscientiousness and a sense of accountability to the whole society rather than to a few.
“If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win.
“I will not sacrifice my sense of accountability to the greater public, especially in the face of police intelligence about planned fighting or other violent intent.
“We must never ever take our peace for granted. We must continue to be responsible to each other,” Abdullah said at the Khazanah Global Lecture Series organised by Khazanah, the government's investment arm.
He said responsibility was an integral value of the nation today as it was in 1957 or 1969.
At a question-and-answer session, Abdullah said he had a duty to perform and that God knew he was “still clean” and that he had no reason to change.
“If I were to sign an ISA detention order, I will do it without feeling any guilt because I have to do my duty.”
Asked on steps taken by the Government to maintain racial harmony, Abdullah said that if anyone broke the law, he would deal with them by enforcing the law.
He advised certain quarters not to play the racial card to seek votes in the general election.
Stating that he was worried because voters were easily persuaded, Abdullah advised Malaysians to show the Government what they really wanted through elections.
He said he had been the Prime Minister for only five years and not much could be expected from him as there was a lot to do.
“People are criticising me, things take time to grow. I want to succeed more than anyone else because I feel responsible,” he said.
Earlier, when describing the characteristics of a true Malaysian in his speech, he said the person would understand the impact of careless words and actions.
“A true Malaysian is acutely aware of who will be provoked into retaliation and who will actually suffer the consequences and will try to be judicious in word and deed, even when striving for change,” he said.
Abdullah said the various groups have their own set of demands and sensitivities and that true Malaysians would understand that the situation demanded balance, conscientiousness and a sense of accountability to the whole society rather than to a few.
