PM: Chinese role valued

Najib pays tribute to the community for helping to build nation

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak paid tribute to the Chinese community for their hard work, sacrifices and contributions to the country.

In a Chinese New Year message, the Prime Minister said the community had made a tremendous contribution to Malaysian culture, society and the economy.

“The culture of friendship, camaraderie and harmonious co-existence has always been our way of life in Malaysia,’’ he said.

Below is the full message of the Prime Minister: Salam 1 Malaysia. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all Chinese Malaysians a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Malaysia is home to people from many cultures, ethnicities and backgrounds – and all have played an important role in building this great nation of ours.

This is very true of our Chinese brothers and sisters who have made a tremendous contribution to Malaysian culture, society and economy.

The results of their hard work and sacrifice is evident in every part of our country.

They have done so hand-in-hand with their fellow citizens, including those from other races, who call Malaysia home.

This culture of friendship, camaraderie and harmonious co-existence has always been our way of life in Malaysia.

Indeed, it symbolises what I believe to be the true spirit of 1Malaysia.

If we follow the core values that embody this – a culture of excellence, perseverance, humility, acceptance, loyalty, education and integrity – I believe that our future, and the future of generations to come, is secure.

As Prime Minister, I am committed to these values, and resolute in my desire to ensure that the future of our children and our children’s children will be better than ours.

Indeed, as we celebrate the start of the Chinese New Year, I hope that all of us take a moment to appreciate the contribution of those who came before us, and commit to leaving our own mark on our society.

Over the course of the coming days, I look forward to joining my fellow citizens from the Chinese Malaysian community at their open houses.

It is one of the most endearing, and personally one of my favourite, Malaysian traditions.

I hope that the Year of the Monkey brings happiness and good health to us all.