(HOLD FOR RELEASE until 1330 GMT Monday) KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug 30, SPA -- In his first National Day speech since taking power, Prime Minister Abdullah AhmadBadawi on Monday urged Malaysians to strive for progress sotheir country could "stand tall with other developednations." "We are the only ones who will determine whether thiscountry rises or falls," Abdullah said in a nationallytelevised speech on the eve of Malaysia's 47th anniversaryof its independence from Britain, which will be celebratedTuesday. Abdullah called on Malaysians to work together _regardless of their race _ to ensure development. "Our country is small, not just in terms of our size butalso in terms of our resources, including humanresources," Abdullah said. "So in order for us to standtall with other developed nations, we need to make use ofour human resources as much as possible." However, Abdullah has voiced fears that a global economicshock could undermine performance _ particularly ifskyrocketing oil prices raise the prospect of a recessionin Malaysia's major export markets.--SPA1321 Local Time 1021 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/196342