Salleh: M’sian pride is what unites the people

KUALA LUMPUR: The pride of being Malaysian, embedded in the concept of Negaraku, is what unites the people, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said.

“Patriotism is about being proud of your country and uniting as one under 1Malaysia, bridging the ethnic and religious divide,” he said in a post yesterday on his blog, sskeruak.blogspot.my.

As 2018 dawns, he said, it has been more than 60 years since Malaysia gained its independence and the new nation that was born on Aug 31, 1957, was founded on the spirit of moderation, understanding and tolerance.

“The formula hammered out between the British and the Alliance Party of Umno, MCA and MIC took into consideration the multi-ethnic and multi-religious makeup of the country that would require a lot of effort to prove viable.

“This diversity was enhanced with the creation of Malaysia on Sept 16, 1963, when the country's multi-ethnicity became richer with the inclusion of Sabah and Sarawak into the federation,” he wrote.

Salleh also called on Malaysians to send a message to those who wish to jeopardise the country's future that they want peace and not chaos in the new year.

He said that of late, peace in the country has been threatened by those who play the race and religion card.

“(In) 2018 we shall be seeing the 14th general election being held and we need to remember that (stability) must be one of the requirements in choosing a government. There are those who do not care if they sacrifice the nation in the pursuit of power and such people must be rejected,” he said. — Bernama