(Aug 18): Malaysia is not a failed state as various international indicators have placed the country in good standing, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today amid criticism that his leadership and alleged scandals are causing the country’s economic and political problems.

He said young Malaysians should not be so easily influenced by "propaganda" against the country by certain media organisations which he said liked to play on sentiment.

"Can Malaysia really be called a 'failed state' or a 'rogue nation' if every day its government is working to protect and uphold the objectives of Shariah law?" Najib said, using the Islamic term "maqasid shariah".

"Can we really be called a failed state when Malaysia is placed in the upper ranks of many indicators such as the Global Competitiveness Report, or the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business reports?" Najib said when launching a seminar in Bangi today.

The term "failed state" has of late been used by some opposition politicians to describe Malaysia under Najib as the country grapples with the ringgit's devaluation against the US dollar, and amid financial scandals involving his brainchild, government-owned investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) which has debts of RM42 billion.

Putrajaya's clampdown on media that had reported critically of 1MDB, such as The Edge and website Sarawak Report, as well as perceived interference in agencies investigating 1MDB, also saw a recent article in The Diplomat magazine describing the country under Najib as "going rogue" for failure to uphold the rule of law.

Najib said it was ironic for critics to call Malaysia a failed state when the country scored a leading position in the Global Islamic Economy Indicator 2014-2015 report, which had been conducted independently of the government.

He said the study showed that Malaysia led other countries by a wide margin in terms of having an Islamic economic "ecosystem" and was considered a matured Islamic economy.

"The study had covered 70 Islamic nations and did not only look at the economy, but consistency in the quality of the economic ecosystem.

"Likewise for the halal industry. We are also among the countries leading in the pharmaceutical sector," He added.

Najib said while Malaysia had its imperfections and weaknesses, it was still a country where people could have their aspirations fulfilled.

"Have we bothered to consider fairly, how a large portion of our resources and government funds are used to building the capability and minds of our people?

"Is it a sin to help and provide a social safety net to the poor and needy?" Najib said – The Malaysian Insider