The government targets to be among the top 10 countries whose people smile the most in 2010 based on a independent body's findings, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, T Murugiah.

He said several campaigns had been carried to eventually place the nation at the 26th spot this year but that was far short from the position of neighbouring Indonesia which was at number one.

"I am now in the process to complete the working paper for 'Smile Smile 1Malaysia' and this will be forwarded to the minister before being tabled to the cabinet. The working paper will also be closely related to and add value to the concept of 1Malaysia," he told reporters in Ipoh yesterday.

He said a study conducted by an independent body in Spain revealed that Malaysians smiled more at foreign tourists than local folks.

Be patient, Indian NGOs told

Meanwhile, Murugiah urged all NGOs and leaders who represented the Indian community to be patient on the issue of allowing students to sit for 12 subjects in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam.

He said the call by groups for all Indian ministers and deputy ministers to step down would not be be effective and was not the best way to resolve the matter.

"The Human Resources Minister, Dr S. Subramaniam, is bringing it up to the cabinet to allow Indian students to sit up to a maximum of 12 subjects... as such I urge all to be patient and not rush to conclusions," he said.

- Bernama