Happy Tamil New Year & Vaisakhi

Festivals in Malaysia are occasions for renewal of faith and friendships among multi-racial Malaysians where family and friends come together to celebrate. In this month of April, many in the Malaysian Indian community will be ushering in their New Year, with the Tamils and Malayalis celebrating “Putthandu” and “Vishu” respectively. The Telugu community also just ushered in their New Year or “Ugadhi” while the Sikh community in Malaysia will mark the auspicious day of the birth of “Khalsa” by celebrating “Vaisakhi”.

While celebrating this new beginning with your family and friends, we should also take a moment to honour and remember our country’s heroes who have fallen in Sabah, defending Malaysia. Any new beginning is also a time for us to look back and reflect on our own lives and be grateful for all the blessings we have received in this land that we all call our home. Let us dedicate ourselves to work for a better nation and to work harder to improve our lives and the lives of the generations to come.

In this determination to achieve progress, the Government will double its efforts and continue to be a real partner of the Indian community. Together, we will deliver results that directly improve the quality of life of all Malaysians, regardless of race. It is not important where we came from, but what is important is where we are going, together. We look forward to a brighter future where everybody has a place under the Malaysian sun. All who need help will not be left behind; this is my commitment.

The Government has constantly engaged directly with the Indian community and implemented various special programmes to transform the community. The Government is also committed to delivering all our promises to the Indian community, as we have been doing over the last four years. The results are already being seen and there is more that needs to be done in what we call a work-in-progress. This Government will not waiver from its purpose to ensure that all communities can stand on their own feet and be counted as equal partners in nation building.

In our dream to build a future full of hope for our families, our communities and our country, let us continue to build the partnership between the Government and the community based on trust, or “nambikei”. I cannot build this future alone and I need each and every one of you to walk with me in this journey to bring transformation and hope to all Malaysians.

We have lived to see, in one generation, how our nation has developed by leaps and bounds. This should give us confidence when facing our shared future. I believe that Malaysia’s best times are ahead of us. In the spirit of 1Malaysia, I take this opportunity to call upon fellow Malaysians to join me in wishing our Indian friends a very Happy New Year and a very Happy Vaisakhi to our Sikh friends.