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Diwali celebrations bring
Malaysians together
Indo-Asian
News Service
Kuala
Lumpur, Oct 28 (IANS) A huge cake, murukku and mutton curry
were among the delicacies spread out at the Open House hosted
by the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) to celebrate Diwali
here. Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmed Badawi, Deputy
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and many ministers were among
the 2,000 guests present.
The
New Straits Times website carried a photograph of the VVIP
guests standing with folded hands in front of a huge cake,
surrounded by many members of the Malaysian Indian community.
The
MIC leaders and their families, attired in their traditional
best, attended the Diwali gala held at the World Trade Centre
here Monday. MIC chief S. Samy Vellu said that seeing the
different races at the meet was a source of pride for MIC.
He
said this highlighted the fact that Diwali had become an occasion
to unite the different races in the country.
He
urged the Indian community to "stay united" as they
have an integral part to play in achieving the government's
plan for unity and development of the country.
Ethnic
Indians, the bulk of them Tamil Hindus, form roughly eight
percent of Malaysia's multi-cultural society. Malay Muslims
form the majority, while Chinese comprise 33 percent.
Besides
Badawi and Razak, several ministers, including International
Trade and Industry Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, Health Minister
Liow Tiong Lai, Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister
Shafie Apdal and Federal Territories Minister Zulhasnan Rafique
attended the Open House.
In
Penang state, an Open House was hosted by lawyer and opposition
lawmaker Karpal Singh, Deputy Chief Minister II Prof P. Ramasamy,
legislator A. Tanasekharan, and state People's Progressive
Party (PPP) chief Loga Bala Mohan.
In
Malacca, state MIC chairman R. Raghavan hosted an Open House
at his residence where children from the Malacca Handicapped
and Mentally Disabled Children Centre were also present.
Malacca
Chief Minister Mohammed Ali Rustam and royal chief Yang Dipertua
Negeri Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob also attended the event.
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