GOVT FIRM IN PRESERVING RELIGIOUS HARMONY IN M'SIA - PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak Friday night
reiterated the government's stand to continue preserving religious harmony in
Malaysia, in line with principles outlined by Islam.

He said Malaysia being a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, one of the
principles that must be maintained and protected was respect for each other's
religion.

"I want to stress here that respecting each other's religion is not only a key
virtue that we must defend in this country, it is also one of the principles in
Islam.

"Islam in its true form does not look down on other religions and neither does
it allow Muslims desecrate houses of worship of non-Muslims. Islam in its true
form calls for respect for other religions...that is the real Islam," he said in
his speech in conjunction with the Thaipusam celebration at the Sri Subramaniyar
temple in Batu Caves, near here.

Also present were his wife Rosmah Mansor, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein,
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Koh Tsu Koon, Women, Family and
Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil, Human Resource Minister Dr S.
Subramaniam and MIC president S. Samy Vellu.

Citing Prophet Muhammad as an example, Najib said, the prophet's example of
always respecting people of other faiths served as a guiding principle of his
administration in overcoming any problem involving racial and religious matters
in the country.

Over a million Hindu devotees were present at the compound of Batu Caves to hear
the prime minister extend his Thaipusam greetings.

In making the visit to Batu Caves for the celebration, Najib also made history
by becoming only the second prime minister to do so. His father, the late Abdul
Razak Hussein, who was Malaysia's second prime minister, was the first when he
made a visit to Batu Caves for the festival more than 30 years ago.

Najib, who was also honoured as “Bapa 1Malaysia” (Father of 1Malaysia) by Sri
Maha Mariamman temple president R. Nadarajah Friday night, said besides
following in his father's footsteps, he was also fulfilling a pledge he made
when attending a carnival there (Batu Caves) last August.

“When the invitation was extended to me to visit Batu Caves again at the
function last August, I had given my pledge that I would come back here to join
in the Thaipusam celebration as mark of respect to the Hindu community."

His said his presence with his wife, Cabinet members and other leaders of
Barisan Nasional (National Front) component parties, showed that the government
always fulfilled its promises and celebrated the diversity of the people of
Malaysia.

Meanwhile, Samy Vellu, when speaking at the same function, said Najib's presence
at the celebration completed the meaning of the 1Malaysia slogan the prime
minister had introduced, and in the process made him an icon of leadership for
the various races in the country.

“The Indian community today dearly loves the Prime Minister who has been
described by its members as a "Bapa 1Malaysia" icon,” he said.

At the function, Najib and Rosmah were also presented silk cloth embroidered in
gold thread that had been specially weaved in India and garlanded with flowers,
the highest respect given by members of the Indian community to a leader.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill, which has a series of caves and cave temples,
located in Gombak district, 13 kilometres north of Kuala Lumpur. It takes its
name from the Sungai Batu or Batu River, which flows past the hill.

The cave is one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, dedicated to
Lord Murugan. It is the focal point of the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in
Malaysia.
-- BERNAMA




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