KUALA LUMPUR: "The prime minister has very big ears, you know that?" Although his audience laughed, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's meaning was clear.

"We are doing very well, although there are still complaints (like) what is happening to our economy, what is happening to this, what is happening to that.

"I hear this. I hear all this... I hear a lot of things, and my ears burn when I hear them," he said.

Without referring to any specific incident, Abdullah said that it was the government's duty to listen to problems, if not, everybody would one day suffer.

"Even if they are feelings of uneasiness, feelings of uncertainty, even anger.
"We have to attend to these problems.

"If you are getting impatient, I am equally, no, I am even more impatient," he said, speaking after opening SRJK (C) Ladang Harcroft in Puchong yesterday.

He said the government could do a lot of things quickly while others took a lot longer.

Abdullah said there needed to be mutual respect among the races if Malaysians were to bond in strength.

"There is unity and strength in diversity. This is our strongest asset that will make Malaysia even greater.

"There is every hope to achieve this vision of a united Malaysia. I am totally committed to this."

Earlier in his speech, Abdullah, who is BN chairman, touched on the relationship between government leaders, saying there must continue to be mutual respect and co-operation among them.

"This is the normal practice for all BN leaders. We are comfortable with that kind of relationship."

He said BN leaders did not feel shy or afraid to say their piece.

"What is there is the easiness to talk during cabinet meetings on all types of issues (such as those touching on) culture, economy, religion.

"No one gets angry or is worried because we are all friends.

"When friends talk no one is suspicious of each other.

"We are friends, so among us, we are sincere.

"That's the spirit of the BN government."

He went on to say that democracy was such that everyone wanted to express an opinion.

"If there is no mutual respect or we don't feel like we are all friends, the government can never survive. And we will continue this forever."

On the quality of education, Abdullah said it was something Malaysia had to continuously strive towards.

"We want our children to be educated and no one left behind. We want quality education and quality opportunities for education.

"This is what we must give. All facilities will be provided by the Education Ministry and the Higher Education Ministry."

The government's duty, he said, was to educate the nation's children so they would develop into men and women of good character, values and knowledge.

"If that happens, our country will be safe. Challenges and obstacles will be faced, but if we have knowledge, we can overcome the challenges and obstacles.

"This is the quality of human capital that we want."

SRJK(C) Ladang Harcroft which was originally in Bruas, Perak, was left with one Standard 6 pupil in July last year, so there was no choice but to find the school another location.

Former Gerakan president and Bruas MP Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik had felt it would be a waste to see the school close down and a discussion with MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting ensued.

The two decided that since there was a need for a Chinese school in Puchong, it would be moved there.

IOI Group executive chairman Tan Sri Lee Shing Cheng took up the project.

"There were not even 10 students in that school but all of them transferred out and Dr Lim himself is paying for their transport until they finish school," said acting Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon during his speech at the new school's launch