'After the reshuffle, now is the time to move forward' - Najib

He said the reshuffle, made on July 28, enabled the party and government to fully focus on the objective to drive Malaysia to developed-nation status over the next five years.

"I wish to thank (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin (Yassin), (Datuk Seri Mohd) Shafie (Apdal), (Datuk Seri) Hasan (Malek) and all the others who are no longer in the government administration.

"They have expressed their commitment and stated they were will remain loyal to UMNO. With the (reshuffle) process completed, we can now move forward.

"I do not want us to lose direction and focus. We must return to the objective that we have to champion as members of the party and government," he said when addressing the people at the Pekan parliamentary constituency Aidilfitri open house at Taman Tasik Sultan Abu Bakar here.

In the Cabinet reshuffle, Najib replaced Muhyiddin with Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as the deputy prime minister. He dropped Shafie, Hasan, Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin and Datuk Seri G. Palanivel as ministers and appointed seven new ministers.

The Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, attended the reception.

Also present were the wife of the prime minister, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and several other state government leaders as well as Transport Minister and MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai.

Najib, in his speech, said he hoped that the government and party leadership would always consider fulfilling the people's needs to ensure that the nation continued to develop and prosper.

"If the people desire affordable houses to live in, champion this cause and provide the houses. If the people want jobs for their children, fight to provide employment opportunities for them. If the people lament about the cost of living, do what can be done to lower the cost of living."

"If they want the crime rate to be slashed and to feel safe, take measures to provide a better living environment and ensure security and peace," he said.

Najib, who is the MP for Pekan, said measures should also be taken if Malaysians, especially Muslims, wanted the sanctity of Islam to be elevated and safeguarded.

He also said that the unity of the people should be maintained at all times.

The prime minister advised the people to think far ahead, for the future of their children and grandchildren.

More than 60,000 people attended the Aidilfitri reception which served an array of delicacies, including 'lemang' and 'ketupat' prepared by the local people.