The word bankrupt does not exist in the Malaysian economic dictionary and this is further strengthened by the group A rating given to the country by international agencies, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today.

The allegation that Malaysia would go bankrupt was baseless and purely untrue because the country had succeeded in wooing foreign investors following the initiatives of the government led by UMNO.

A handful of opposition members had deliberately pretended to not understand the position of the nation which was not considered to be bankrupt whereas the rating was given by credible agencies and not by the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council or the DAP, or PKR, or Mat Sabu.

"But the rating on the country's record of achievement had been certified by international agencies whose credibility had been recognised worldwide," he pointed out.

Datuk Seri Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said this in the Presidential Policy Speech in conjunction with the UMNO General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre, here today.

He said the UMNO and Barisan Nasional leadership which had brought about economic progress as a result of the two recent visits including to Germany recently, where an investment worth EUR1 billion (RM5 billion) had been signed through the company, Osram.

In addition, the visit to China had created history when an investment agreement worth almost RM144 billion was signed which would bring about substantial benefits to the country, he said.

"However, a handful of people did not like whatever we have done.

"When there is no investment, they say we have failed. But when we bring in investment, they say we have sold the country," Datuk Seri Najib said.

Responding to the allegation by a small group that the government was cruel, the election was not transparent and oppressed the people, Najib said that he had personally referred to the religious group who clarified that a leader was only considered cruel if he asked the people to do things which went against the teachings of the religion.

"Is it cruel if the government is so concerned about the welfare of the people to the extent that we provide Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) which operates seven days a week from 8am to 10pm?

"I want to ask, which government in the world provides such a service? None, except for the government led by UMNO and the Barisan Nasional," he said.

In terms of education, the government provided opportunities beginning at the pre-school level, primary right up to secondary level almost everything was free of charge, whereas at the public universities about 90 per cent of the cost of study was borne by the government with an expected overall expenditure exceeding RM56 billion, said Datuk Seri Najib.

-- BERNAMA