DESECRATION OF HOUSES OF WORSHIP INDICATE NEED FOR 1MALAYSIA

KLANG (Malaysia), Feb 21 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Najib Razak said
desecration of houses of worship and dumping severed pig heads at mosques did
not reflect 1Malaysia's failure.

Rather, such incidents showed that there was a need for such a concept for
Malaysians.

He said the torching of churches and surau and dumping pig heads at mosques
might be the work of extremists.

"If we take the middle path, be moderate in attitude and stand. Then, those on
the left and right are the extremists.

"Sooner or later, they (extremists) will have no place in Malaysian society
because we support 1Malaysia," he said in his speech at the national-level
Chinese New Year celebrations in the town of Pandamaran here Saturday night.

Najib said Malaysians should not be upset over such incidents, but view them as
both a challenge and lesson.

"It is a challenge for us, we should unite as one nation, one people. This is
the spirit which we should inculcate," he added.

Najib said the nation's well-being lay on the uniqueness of its people of
various races which could not be found in other countries.

In Malaysia, the people celebrate six festivals at national-level and the
government recognises the cultural heritage of the minorities.

This is the spirit of the 1Malaysia concept, as mirrored by the 'yee sang'
ingredients comprising fish, herbs, vegetables and honey which were mixed into
one special dish, he added.

Najib thanked the people of Pandamaran who came out in full force and were
willing to wait for him and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, in the rain.

"Despite the heavy downpour, the people of Pandamaran say, 'no problem'. They
say the rain brings 'ong' (luck), the Malays say, the rain is a blessing," added
the prime minister.

Najib said he could feel the difference in attending to a function like this,
where there was no tight protocol and red carpet welcome.

The prime minister then gave a final touch with a brush, to the last letter of a
Chinese calligraphy which meant 1Malaysia, to symbolise the launch of Saturday
night's function.

Najib, together with the locals and community leaders, mixed the yee sang, a
traditional Chinese dish for the Chinese New Year celebration.

Before returning home, he stopped at the Kuan Seh Keong Chinese temple in Jalan
Chan Ah Choo.
-- BERNAMA