Cherish Our Diversity Don T Fear It Says Anwar

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The prime minister said the seeds of division will take root if the people begin to isolate or reject one another.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and tourism, arts and culture minister Tiong King Sing with participants of the Malaysia Cultural Festival in Kuala Lumpur tonight. (Bernama pic)KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s cultural and ethnic diversity is the nation’s main strength and not something to be rejected or feared, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said today
Speaking at the launch of the Malaysia Cultural Festival 2025 here tonight, Anwar said the nation’s greatness lies in the acceptance and respect for the heritage of the various communities that shape the national identity.
“Our greatness comes from our willingness to embrace our nation’s heritage, with its many ethnic groups and regions, each with its own strength, all displaying extraordinary beauty and richness.
“This culture is developed by embracing the traditions of other communities, including Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan, Murut, Melanau, and Bajau, all of which we then recognise as our culture, as Malaysians.
“This is what will ensure our success, guarantee peace and continuity. But if we begin to isolate or reject one another, that is when the seeds of division among us will take root,” he said.
Anwar said he needed to stress the matter so that the people would not be swayed into becoming a small group unwilling to embrace the diversity that has long been Malaysia’s lifeblood.
“We must show our willingness not only to recognise, but also to respect, enrich, elevate, introduce and demonstrate that we are inspired by the richness of each culture.
“This is what I want to emphasise as Malaysia’s strength, different from the views of a small group who believe only their perspective is right and are not ready to embrace diversity,” he said.
Anwar also spoke on language as a unifying factor. He said Malay remains the official language but the right of all communities to master their mother tongues must also be respected.
“This country is built on several foundations, and one of them is language. Bahasa Melayu is the official language, the language that strengthens and unites all the people of our nation.
“But this country is also founded on respect for the right of all communities to master their own languages. With the global developments today, we also recognise the need to master multiple languages, especially English,” he said. - FMT

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