In societies the world over, whenever something goes wrong, as it invariably will, the government is expected to take full responsibility whether or not it is of its making. A responsible government has really little choice in the matter of providing leadership to govern well in the public interest. Malaya, later Malaysia, a difficult multiethnic and multireligious country to govern at the best of times, has not always had an easy ride in social, economic and political terms. However, if judged dispassionately against this background, successive governments have done a reasonable job of maintaining peace, security and creating general prosperity. The government now faces the problem of maintaining growth and employment while keeping a lid on prices; and again if judged in a non-partisan fashion, the government is dealing with it in a pragmatic way. In the world outside, our country is a respected member of the global community, playing an active role in many United Nations sponsored initiatives, and generally well-regarded as a country that meets its international obligations squarely. Yes, we could have done a lot better, and, I ask you, which country couldnt? Our leadership has by and large been responsive to the needs of the people.
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