Malaysians should put unity as basis for peace, harmony

MELAKA: Melaka Chief Minister Adly Zahari has called on all Malaysians, and the people of Melaka in particular, to put the spirit of unity as the basis for ensuring peace and harmony in the state and country.

He said that everyone need to stay united and continued to cultivate good-natured traits to counter any provocative forms of religious and racial sentiments among the various races in the country.

In the current era of information and communications technology, he said, people should also verify the authenticity and validity of news or information obtained in social media especially through WhatsApp applications first before disseminating them to other groups.

“The spirit of unity that has been safeguarded by the previous leaders must be maintained despite the various changes in the patterns and policies under the new government.

“This effort is not just the government’s responsibility but it also requires the commitment of all parties to ensure that harmony and peace that we will pass on to our children and grandchildren,” he said in his speech at the state level 2018 Christmas Open House in Bandar Hilir here, Saturday night.

The event was attended by more than 1,000 visitors and Christmas open house organising committee chairman Damian Yeo Shen Li.

Adly said Malaysians were lucky to be born here, a unique country in the eyes of the world and inhabited by people from various races and religions.

He said for example, Melaka, was a very rich state with its diverse cultural heritage that synonymous with the identity of the races including the Malays, Chinese, Indians, Baba and Nyonya, Portuguese and Chitty.

“This harmonious atmosphere should be maintained to assist the state government in formulating the new policies and to implement them to spur and improve the state and nation’s growth for the well-being and comfort of the people,” he said. - Bernama