PM Najib meets his Facebook fans

Singing praises of the Internet, Prime Minister Najib Razak said it has broken down the many walls dividing the people.

"The beauty of the internet is that it breaks down the ethnic, religious and age wall. We are here because we are connected to the Internet," he said at the 1Malaysia hi-tea he hosted for his Internet friends at the prime minister's official residence, Seri Perdana, in Putrajaya today.

Also present were his wife Rosmah Mansor and their two children, Nooryana Najwa and Nor Ashman Razak.

On the broadband initiative, Najib said the government would implement it as widespread as possible to enable more people to be connected and enhance social connectivity.

He said about five million Malaysians were active in social website Facebook, which he described as a good indication that the people used information and communication technology (ICT).

About 300 of the prime minister's Internet friends of various races nationwide attended the event.

Najib said the goverment used the Internet as one of the ways to communicate with the people, such as after he tabled the 2010 budget whereby, he received hundreds of useful suggestions from the people.

"I want all of you to feel that you have the government that is very responsive to the needs and aspirations of the Malaysian people... and we will use the latest technology to get connected and communicate with rakyat Malaysia.

"By doing this, we will get two ways of communication and connectivity between the people and the government.

"Of course, people will send letters, people write claims and so forth, but nothing like using the internet because that is definitely, the most effective way to communicate with one another," he said.

He has 120.000 Facebook friends

On the event, Najib said the meeting enabled him to meet Internet friends who had taken the initiative to include him on Facebook, with the current total of 120,000 friends growing by the day.

He said the first group of 300 friends were selected based on the capacity of the banquet hall in Seri Perdana, with more to be invited to similar occassions in the future.

Of those who turned up, 45 percent were aged between 15 and 29, between 30-39 (35 percent) and over 40 years (20 percent).

Najib, who expressed gratitude to his Internet friends for their responsiveness and apologised for sometimes not replying to comments, said the event was a success.

"This is the first time we met, but I feel the connection. I wish you all much success and please commit to the spirit of 1Malaysia as you are all important players in the nation's development.

"Let us work to make Malaysia a strong, united, and prosperous nation. Please keep in touch on the Internet," he said.

- Bernama