KUALA LUMPUR: The National Day message conveyed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak tonight highlighted the uniqueness and the spirit of togetherness of Malaysia’s multi-racial society.
Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Dr Ali Hamsa said the message was very meaningful as it touched on economic progress and social development among the people of various races.
He said the Prime Minister also linked the fighting spirit shown by Malaysian athletes at the Rio Olympic Games in his speech.
“When these athletes “battled” in the international arena, Malaysians were united behind them by giving undivided support.
“This is the true spirit that should be kept fueled and instilled among us. We must unite as a team to keep up the good name of Malaysia,” he told reporters after National Day Message 2016 event at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), here tonight.
Ali advised Malaysians to always remain united and defend the country against outside threats, as well as to eliminate ill-feelings.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the message was very timely and called on the people to reinforce the spirit of solidarity.
“I am very touched by the message which highlighted three “moments of unity:, in sports, food to local film which are close to the society.
“More importantly, it shows how the Malaysian government adopts the ‘wasatiyah’ (moderation) spirit in protecting the welfare of people of all races because we want the people in Malaysia to have a sense of belonging,” he said, adding that the athletes should be appointed as unity ambassadors.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup said the ‘moments of unity’ that exist among the people in the country should be maintained for Malaysian solidarity.
He said more characters and events that lead to the ‘moments of unity’ should be sought so that the people would remain united in any kind of circumstances.
“A good example given by the Prime Minister just now was the moments where we were all supporting our shuttlers at the Olympics. We were all united and had one goal, that was to see our players win... we should maintain this and look up for more of such characters in other circumstances,” he said.
He also thanked the government for its unrelenting efforts in uniting the people in this country including the minorities.
For Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, the message by the Prime Minister tonight on unity was a reality that could not be denied.
He said the racial and differences in opinions could be a force to Malaysia if love for the nation was intensified as inspired by Najib.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim on the other hand described the Merdeka message by the Prime Minister as the best ever and not rhetoric as it highlighted examples of the real ‘moments of unity’.
For International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapha Mohamed, the Merdeka message by the Prime Minister was a highly motivated speech.
“We as Malaysians should be proud of the success that have been achieved and it is very important for us to keep our country and be united. We have faced various challenges for the past 59 years and there is nothing that we cannot solve if we are united,” he said.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said racial unity was the key to success on how Malaysia can maintain its independence.
Meanwhile, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot said the message must be heeded and urged the people to strengthen racial solidarity.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim said the message tonight showed why people should uphold solidarity.
Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar described the message by the Prime Minister as full of facts, especially on the aspects of unity that becomes the ‘pulse of togetherness’ aming the Malaysians.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri on the other hand said the reminder on unity so that attempts to bring chaos in the multi-racial society in the country could be dealt with.
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Mah Siew Keong described the Prime Minister’s speech as very encouraging and had enlivened the spirit of 1Malaysia.
– BERNAMA