|
Malaysia PM surprises Sikhs by
landing at Gurdwara on Vaisakhi
WSN Network
 The
Malaysian Sikh community's contribution to the history and
development of the country is very important and significant, Prime
Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, said while participating and
sharing in the community's joy on the occasion of Vaisakhi.
Vaisakhi in
Malaysia is a time
for great celebrations for the Sikh community, and everyone looks
forward to marking the day when the tenth Sikh Guru founded the
Khalsa panth. For Kajang Gurdwara Sahib committee member Amarjit
Singh, the changing of the Nishan Sahib, the Sikh flag, is also an
annual Vaisakhi ritual. Of course, like everywhere else, the special
programmes like kirtan darbars and display of Sikh martial arts
gatka as part of the Vaisakhi celebrations are also looked forward
to.
Among the Ragi Singhs touring
Malaysia this year
are Bikramjit Singh, and Sikh convert Vikram Singh, formerly known
as rockstar Vic Briggs, from the United Kingdom.
Gurdwara will feature a series of other activities like
health awareness camps and blood donation drives.
At the Petaling Jaya Gurdwara Sahib, Dastaar Bandhi – a
coming of age ceremony for young boys was held on Vaisakhi day while
an Exhibition on Sikh Bravery in Military History (British Indian
Army) during World War I and 2 will be held on April 19 from
10am till 4pm.
Najib said that although the Sikh community was relatively
small, in the region of 100,000 people, they had served the country
well.
Sikhs are members of the security forces such as in the
police and armed forces, and are also in professional fields as
doctors and lawyers, and also entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens.
"You have indeed contributed much to the development of
Malaysia and I
hope you will be with us in future as we develop Malaysia," he said
at the Sikh community's Vaisakhi celebrations at the Guru Nanak
Darbar Tatt Khalsa Diwan Selangor at Jalan Raja Alang here.
Thanking the Sikh community for the warm welcome, he said he
was happy to be able to share the joyous occasion with them. "I have
decided to visit you today because I want to show and indicate very
clearly that this government stands for all communities...all races
and all religions. I want to underscore that I am the leader and I
am the Prime Minister for all communities. My presence here is also
to recognise the contribution of the Sikh community in the
development of
Malaysia," he said
to applause from the 2,000-odd crowd.
Najib said he introduced the "One Malaysia" concept as he
believed that if all Malaysians stood and worked together and be one
family and one team, "we can indeed make
Malaysia a stronger
and more prosperous nation, based on the principles of trust and
mutual respect among all communities in
Malaysia".
"That is the essence of what One Malaysia is all about," he
said. Najib said Malaysians must break down the barriers between
them and must not look at each other on the prism of skin or colour.
Najib said he only informed the hosts the evening before
about his visit because he did not want all the pomp. "I just want
to be one of you in a natural way to see you taking part in your
daily activities, so that I can better understand your aspirations
and the hopes of the Sikh community and of course all the other
communities in Malaysia.
That is the approach I have intended for this government and
for this Cabinet and I hope you will be together with us in the
journey of making Malaysia a more prosperous and successful nation,"
he said.
Najib said he enjoyed the breakfast of Sikh traditional food
such as prata, pakoda and barfi (sweets) which he had with Minister
in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and the
Federal Territories Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin
and the local community.
Meanwhile, the acting president of the Tatt Khalsa, Rejinder
Singh, said the Sikh community was honoured to have the prime
minister at their Vaisakhi celebrations.
He said Najib told them to see him or Dr Koh directly if the
community have any problems or matters which needed the attention of
the government. "We appreciate this because although we are only a
small minority the prime minister has shown concern for us," he
said.
Najib is the third prime minister to visit the Tatt Khalsa,
after Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-haj and Tun Hussein Onn.
15
April 2009
|
Read Also