TO PRESERVE PEACE’
“So, I urge everyone to do so,” he said at the Ugadi Carnival 2017 at Dataran Merdeka here yesterday.
The carnival, organised by the Telugu Association of Malaysia, drew about 15,000 people.
Zahid, who is also home minister, said the carnival was not a political gathering nor was it based on race, but was a manifestation of everyone’s right to celebrate their cultures and festivals.
“Mother tongues must be stability in the South China Sea,” he added.
Hishammuddin also witnessed the signing of a sub-contract between Boustead Naval Shipyard Sdn Bhd and China Shipbuilding and Offshore International Co Ltd to build four littoral mission ships for the Royal Malaysian Navy.
“The first two ships will be built in China.
“The expertise and the cost, which is lower in China, will be taught in primary schools. I am confident that our education policy allows this.
“That is why when I was just a member of parliament, I fought for the right of the Telugu language to be taught in primary schools,” he said.
This, he said, was not to compartmentalise the races, but to ensure that people appreciated the various ethnic groups.
He also said the cabinet and Barisan Nasional valued cultural differences and diversity.
Present at the carnival were Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, his deputy, Datuk Dr Loga Bala Mohan, and Transport Ministry adviser Tan Sri M. Kayveas.
Ugadi was celebrated by 400,000 Telugus in the country on March 29.
Telugu Association of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Achaiah Kumar Rao praised the government for giving people the freedom to practise all religions and maintaining the peaceful coexistence between races.
“There is no fear walking down the streets. We look at one another as brothers,” he said. used by Boustead to build the remaining two ships in Malaysia.
“The acquisition of the ships is an important milestone for the country as it is the first time Malaysia has bought defence assets from China,” he added.
Hishammuddin also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia and Peking University of China. Bernama