Najib (left) with Adenan (second right), (from third left) Rosmah, Jamilah, Chan (third right) and others at a booth set up by Ibraco Berhad.
Guests-of-honour and other guests being welcomed by traditional lion dances.
Najib hands out angpow to a senior citizen. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
Thousands of people throng the festive gathering.
Najib (seventh right) with Adenan (fourth left), Rosmah (sixth right), Jamilah (third left) and others tossing `Yee Sang’ at the MBKS Lunar New Year gathering.
KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was aware the Chinese in Malaysia wanted peace and stability, good governance, and rejected extremism.
“They want, above all, peace and stability. If you don’t have peace and stability, you cannot do business or make money, and Barisan Nasional can provide peace and stability in Sarawak.
“When we have peace and stability, we must reject extremism. As a government, Barisan Nasional must reject any form of extremism, and I hope the Chinese community will be behind us to fight extremism,” he said at the MBKS Chinese New Year gathering at Dewan Masyarakat here last night.
Najib remarked that the Chinese community was concerned about fighting corruption, too, and he lauded Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem for his commitment in combating corruption and illegal logging.
“Illegal loggers better beware as Adenan is coming after you. I was told Feb 28 is Adenan’s anniversary in office as the chief minister, so tonight, we not only celebrate Chinese New Year, but also one year of Adenan in office.”
Addressing the people earlier, Adenan opted for the local and simple style of speech, which prompted Najib to comment, “He has his own unique style. He speaks the language of the people. I hope he will maintain this as I can see this is why people of Sarawak endear to him.”
“I hope you will show your support to Adenan when the time comes. I’m sure you know what I mean by this.”
Citing `Yee Sang’, Najib said this festive dish might appear in a mess when people tossed it, but it tasted good in the end.
“Malaysian community may look a bit like that, but at the end of the day, we have the uniqueness and strength of the Malaysian nation represented by so many ethnic groups. We come together as one Malaysia, and we will be a strong and successful Malaysia.”
He said the underpinning values associated with diversity, especially the concept of 1Malaysia, mattered, and mutual respect must be practised.
“I respect you, your culture, lifestyle, religion, and language, and you respect my language, religion and my way of life. That is the underpinning values. And I see that in Sarawak even before the concept of 1Malaysia.
“I see that feeling of mutual respect in so many parts of Sarawak. This is the strength that we must solidify as we move forward.”