Public safety takes precedence over public freedom, warned Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

The premier’s statement comes in the wake of a police crackdown on the organisers of public rallies without police permits and amid concerns that the government may invoke the Internal Security Act (ISA) in the light of recent events.

Abdullah said he would not sacrifice his sense of accountability to the greater public, especially in the face of police intelligence about planned fighting or other violent intents.

"If the choice is between public safety and public freedom, I do not hesitate to say here that public safety will always win," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

"Malaysians must never, ever, take their peace for granted and they must continue to be responsible to each other," he said.

Speaking at the Khazanah Global Lecture Series at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), he said responsibility, particularly to each other, as an integral value of the nation, was as important today as it was in 1957 or 1969.

True Malaysian

"If we are to evolve into a society that can peacefully live with media freedom, public debates or public show of expression, the value and the burden of responsibility must lie with the ordinary people, not just with those who manage the country," he said.

"In this age of relative affluence and stability, we sometimes forget that there are many groups within the country - each with their own set of demands, each with their own set of sensitivities.

"These differences are very real, yet we do not descend into sheer unmitigated chaos. Why? Because I think there are enough of us who do not forget, who know and remember our complexities," said Abdullah.

"Those who do not forget understand that our situation demands balance, conscientiousness, and a sense of accountability to the whole (society) rather than to a few.

"For me, this characterises a true Malaysian. A true Malaysian understands very well 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.

"Because of this, a true Malaysian will try to be judicious in word and deed, even when striving for change," he said.

Three values

According to the premier, fairness, responsibility and self-belief were the three values that had dominated Malaysia for 50 years as a nation and these would continue to shape the nation in the next 50 years.

He said political fairness could be seen in the practice of power-sharing where all the major races were represented in government via a seat-sharing formula set up by the ruling coalition.

"All groups literally have a seat at the table - the Cabinet meeting table. Issues and concerns are discussed and addressed, often behind closed doors, to reach consensus, where no one is out-voted by the majority; where the rights of every group are protected and safeguarded."

He said there was consensus on having cultural fairness, and added: "We, each of us, are a thread making up a larger design but if we look closely enough, we will see that each thread still retains its own quality."

He said the country's pursuit of economic fairness continued today, for example, in the approach of corridor development underlined by the same basic principles, which were to eradicate poverty and to provide people with the opportunity to better their lives through employment, business and education.

Abdullah said government's efforts to eradicate poverty, regardless of race, and eliminating the identification of ethnicity with economic function were now regarded as visionary and far-sighted, as socio-economic disparities widened throughout the world and posed a grave threat to global peace and stability.

"In self-belief, many of the doctrines and measures the country has undertaken fly in the face of popular thinking, from the National Economic Policy to capital controls during the Asian financial crisis.

"We held fast through the massive criticisms and doubts, and this trust in ourselves has paid off," he said.

"Fairness, responsibility and self-belief were the values that guaranteed sustained unity and continued progress.

"So let us begin with fairness, responsibility and self-belief. Let us understand and appreciate the meaning of these values and start upholding them together. Everyone -- leaders, political parties, companies, NGOs, people from all walks of life.

"Let us start building our hearts and minds as we enter into our next 50 years as a nation."

Abdullah also touched on the country's success this year, including the launching of two new growth corridors - the Northern Corridor Economic Region and East Coast Economic Region - as well as the education blueprint and the strategic plan on higher education.

Also present were his wife Jeanne Abdullah, Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, Raja Puan Besar Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, Second Finance Minister Nor Mohamed Yakcop and Bank Negara Governor Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.