Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today asked the public and private sectors to rise above scepticism and challenges not only for themselves but also for the sake of the people.

He commended the public and private sectors for working very hard to achieve remarkable results thus far, especially in swiftly executing various initiatives under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

"We have great potential and the time to unleash it is now. Let's raise the bar and make the world sit up, listen and take notice of our masterpiece in the making," he said at the ETP update seven.

The text of his speech was read out by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Six strategic reform initiatives were also unveiled today.

To date, 82 percent of the entry point projects (EPPs) initiatives of 65 projects with a cumulative investment of RM170 billion have started, with the remaining 18 percent in various stages of work-in-progress.

'Proof of the pudding is in the eating'

The projected Gross National Income from the projects is RM220 billion while over 360,000 new jobs will be created in line with the government's objective.

This month alone, Malaysians will see many more major initiatives taking off.

Among others is the launching of the Sungei Buloh-Kajang line of the much anticipated Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project, he said.

"They say talk is cheap and the proof of the pudding is in the eating.

"For the past 18 months, we have put our hearts and minds to demonstrate to the world that we have the single-minded will and focus to execute," he said.

Najib, who is also finance minister, said based on the 2010 Global Competitiveness Report by the World Economic Forum, Malaysia was ranked 26th, coming behind Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong and Japan.

"We want to do better," he said, adding that the government's focus in its pursuit of economic growth and power that with reforms will enable Malaysia to compete robustly in the global arena.

- Bernama