KPJ Healthcare Berhad

'Keep up push for innovation'

New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: The adoption of an innovative mindset will provide impetus for new wealth creation, employment and societal advancement, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said last night. The prime minister, who was inducted as an Honorary Fellow of the Malaysian Institute of Directors (MID) here, said the nation was able to stay competitive, resilient and dynamic because "we have kept on tweaking processes and systems, and enhancing services and products to be ahead of the pack". He cited several examples that made up corporate Malaysia, including Felda, which began as a poverty eradication entity and today has become one of the world's most successful land resettlement schemes. Najib urged corporate Malaysia to double its efforts to keep the nation surging ahead. "We have to continue to build on our achievements, deploying sound marketing strategies and global branding initiatives while delivering current, top-quality products and services that will withstand global scrutiny and evaluation," he said. "We have to move Malaysia and Malaysian products and services up the value chain so that not only is Malaysia seen as a primary business and investment destination, but Malaysian companies, too, are seen as forces to be reckoned with in whatever field they enter." On the government's part, Najib said, it would continue to tweak the system and make necessary and timely adjustments to facilitate the growth of corporate Malaysia. Earlier, MID president Tan Sri Dr Lim Kok Wing, in conferring the honorary fellowship to Najib, said the prime minister had been relentless in his push for innovation to be injected into every corner of society, and every sector of industry as well as the entire government machinery. Other dignitaries who were awarded MID Fellows included former prime ministers Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The corporate banquet last night also honoured some of the country's most dynamic companies for their innovative business endeavours. Recipients of the corporate leadership award included Malaysia Airlines chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Munir Abdul Majid in the airlines category, AirAsia group chief executive officer Datuk Kamarudin Meranun in the diversified airlines services category, and Proton chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh and Perodua chief executive officer Datuk Aminar Rashid Salleh in the automotive category. Present at the banquet were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, ministers, deputy ministers and foreign ambassadors. The banquet was managed by Limkokwing University of Creative Technology, a strategic partner of MID.