Saturday November 21, 2009
Our diversity is a blessing, says PM
By LESTER KONG
KUALA LUMPUR: It is the Go- vernment’s key objective to make every Malaysian understand that the country’s diversity is a blessing and a basis for racial unity.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the 1Malaysia concept was not a ready-made programme created to be forced upon the public by his administration.
He added 1Malaysia was reminder to all Malaysians focusing on bridging the social divide and preventing polarisation.
“1Malaysia is the clarion call for Malaysians from all walks of life to rise to this singular challenge.
1Malaysia attire Najib looking at samples of the proposed 1Malaysia batik clothing in Putrajaya yesterday. Kraftangan Malaysia has introduced the 1Malaysia batik design which is proposed to be made the official attire during 1Malaysia events. — Bernama “Our diversity must be a blessing if it is not to be a curse,” he said in his keynote address to open Asia Society’s Asia 21 Young Leader Summit last night.
He said the country’s racial and cultural diversity was a source for cultural vitality and economic advantage.
“Diversity is in the genes of this nation and has always been linked with travel, trade and exchange rather than conquest and conflict,” he said.
He reminded Asia Society’s delegates from various Asian countries that the economic resurgence of China and India meant that Malaysia was poised to rediscover itself as a historical centre of trade for the Asian world.
“Malaysia, sitting astride the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea, is poised to rediscover itself at the nexus of regional trade flows.
“We are a trading country with the DNA of the Islamic Middle East, China, India and the Malay archipelago, sitting at the geographical nexus of these worlds,” he said.
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