Malaysian PM says Indians' contribution vital in nation-building

Petaling Jaya (Malaysia), Oct 27 : Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has reportedly sent Diwali greetings to the Indians living in his country, saying they were an integral part of society and his Government recognised the past and present contributions of the community in nation-building.

In his written message, Ahmad Badawi said that the Indians had always tirelessly worked with and constructively engaged the Government to improve the well-being of the community.

"The Government is also fully committed to this end, knowing full well that any advancement made by this community, as with the others, will surely also benefit the country as a whole," he said, adding that a Cabinet committee has been set up to address challenges faced by the local community.

"In the spirit of Deepavali, that good will always prevail. Malaysians must remain together and not allow extremist groups and individuals to cause tensions to rise. We are mature and united enough to recognise that the vast majority of Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, all aspire to achieve the same objectives for our families and for our country," staronline.com quoted him as saying in his message.

He added: "I wish all Malaysian Hindus a very Happy Deepavali. I sincerely hope that you will be able to celebrate and share this special time with family and friends of all races."

ANI