Celebrate diversity and nation will prosper, Hadi says in CNY message

PETALING JAYA: Celebrating the country's racial and cultural diversity will help it prosper, says PAS.

In his Chinese New Year message, party president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang said all Malaysians should aspire towards a prosperous nation in which all communities live in peace and harmony.

"The diversity of races and ethnicities is celebrated as a sign of Allah's magnificence and is part of nature in the creation of humanity.

"Islam, which is the guiding principle of PAS, guarantees justice, peace and well-being for all races and religions in this country," he said on Thursday (Feb 8).

"PAS holds to the concept of no compulsion in religion even when Islam is in full authority. PAS, through its governance in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis, has successfully shown that religious freedom for other faiths is not obstructed, places of worship are not demolished, and economic activities are not restricted.

"Therefore, my hope during this Chinese New Year celebration is for the unity of races in Malaysia to be continuously strengthened and fortified," he added.

Abdul Hadi also wished those returning to their hometowns a safe journey.