PUTRAJAYA: Many Islamic nations see Malaysia as a special and much admired Muslim country, as well as the best example of a progressive Muslim nation.
Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said, many foreign visitors he met lately, voiced their wish to cooperate, study and emulate the development and transformation taking place in Malaysia..
According to Muhyiddin, the foreign visitors he met, such as from Palestine, Somalia and Afghanistan were amazed at the Islamic leadership in Malaysia under the administration of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak who was persistent in transforming the country.
“This is proof that the world sees Malaysia as a special and admired Islamic nation,” he said in his speech during a breaking-of-fast organised by the Information, Communications and Culture Ministry with the cooperation of the Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council at Putra Mosque, here.
Also present were Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Putrajaya Corporation chief executive officer Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat and the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Kamaruddin Siaraf.
Muhyiddin said unlike the unfortunate situation in Syria which was witnessing Muslims fighting each other, the people of Malaysia were living in a peaceful environment as a result of its responsible leaders, who saw how important peace meant.
“Because of this, in facing current challenges, Muslims have no choice except to be united, regardless of what group they are from, be it a minority group. What is important is that Islamic unity must be placed at the pinnacle of our effort to develop the nation,” he said.
At the function, Muhyiddin also handed out contributions worth RM500,000 to 1,778 recipients including the Ex-Servicemen’s Association, Police Veterans Association, orphans, veteran artistes and pensioners from the Malaysian Broadcasting Department, Information Department and National Film Development Corporation.
After breaking fast, Muhyiddin performed Magrib prayers with those who attended the function.
Earlier, in conjunction with the breaking-of-fast, the ministry held a gotong-royong to cook 19 huge pots of savoury rice porridge, which was symbolic of the number of agencies under the ministry.
The Putrajaya 1Malaysia Community Volunteers (K1M) also helped to distribute the porridge to the public around Putrajaya. –Bernama