Rumah terbuka amalan sepanjang tahun, bukan hanya musim perayaan, kata menteri

During the National Deepavali Day celebrations in Little India, Brickfields, Minister of Unity, Aaron Ago Dagang stressed that the practice of open homes and neighborhood visits should be embraced as a year-round tradition, not just during holiday seasons. He explained that such customs can serve as bridges of friendship, fostering intercommunity relationships and preventing diversity from becoming a dividing factor in daily life.

For true unity, he emphasized, daily interaction, social concern, and a spirit of mutual assistance are essential. To cultivate a progressive and harmonious society that embraces diversity, Malaysia must nurture the principles of understanding, respect, acceptance, and celebration of differences, he said during the event at Little India, Brickfields, which was graced by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Dagang highlighted that Malaysia's strength and uniqueness as a multi-ethnic nation lies not in the uniformity of its people, but in their ability to unite despite their differences. Though they may differ in religion, language, culture, and tradition, the Malaysian people share a common homeland, federal Constitution, Rukun Negara, and the aspiration to build a great nation while safeguarding shared interests.

The Unity, Business and Industry Federation of Malaysia (MBIM) and the Department of Prime Minister's Special Duties (KEMPU) also participated in the event, which was themed "Deepavali Lights, Uniting Light," and featured various cultural and traditional exhibits from India, including classical music, martial arts, Silambam and Kalaripayattu performances, and fashion shows.

A highlight was the "House of the Nation" (Rumah Kami) exhibit, showcasing the diversity of Malay, Chinese, Tamil, Telugu, Punjabi, Gujarati, and Malayalee heritage and traditions.