Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today delivered speeches that were loaded with religious metaphors and veiled criticisms.

The premier, who is on a two-day visit to Pahang, told his audience at one function that he is willing to be reprimanded as long as the criticisms were sincere and beneficial to the people.

"I am not the smartest....there are others who are smarter but I am the prime minister and it is not wrong for me to take some time to listen to more views in order to get the best opinion," he told a gathering of civil servants that was also attended by his deputy Najib Abdul Razak.

"Often, a unilateral decision may cause mistakes,"Abdullah was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Citing an example from the cabinet ministers meeting yesterday, the prime minister said he gave all ministers the opportunity to air their views on each matter that was discussed.

"Yesterday, I chaired the cabinet ministers meeting to discuss next year's budget. Nowadays, our ministers talk a lot, not like before," said the premier, who has been coming under fire from his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Abdullah also outlined four factors which should be followed by all leaders, administrators and members of the public service in carrying out their responsibility - humane and caring; trustworthy, fair and just and sincerity.

Behaving like demons

In his speech, he reiterated the importance of sincerity in all aspects including in carrying out the development projects and the national mission.

Abdullah also said the government depended fully on the civil servants in realising the projects under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

However, in implementing the projects, he said, there were certain quarters behaving like "demons" who tried to disrupt development efforts as they felt they were smarter than others.

"Adam was created and the angels accepted Adam as the Caliph. But it was the demon who opposed it. Allah (God) has shown that Adam was smarter than the demon.

"As such, the main reason why Allah chose Adam as the Caliph was because of his intelligence," he said.

At another event, the prime minister also advised the people to practice the collective approach.

"Don't ever adopt an approach which can jeopardise unity, an approach that makes consensus and cooperation difficult to achieve. This should never be practised," he said

Criticisms must be constructive and they should be based on the views of the group and this was vital in achieving national unity, he said at the Sukpa closed stadium in Kuatan.

Don't spread lies

Drawing lessons from the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, Abdullah said the people must be prepared to face the challenges ahead by equipping themselves with strength and determination.

"We in Malaysia should not spread lies or create animosity. And, don't become parasites which threaten our strength as we appreciate the unity, cooperation and consensus which exist in the party.

"We will not allow anyone to threaten us as we have a major task ahead of us which needs the strength and full attention," he said.

According to Bernama, Abdullah's arrival at Sukpa was greeted by some 10,000 people who also displayed banners which among others read, 'Kami sokong Pak Lah' (We support Pak Lah), 'BN Pahang tetap bersama Pak Lah' (BN Pahang is with Pak Lah) and 'Hidup Pak Lah' (Long live Pak Lah)