Malaysian prime minister greets people on Diwali

Kuala Lumpur -- Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on all Malaysians to celebrate Diwali and further strengthen the bond between different communities.

In his Diwali message, Badawi expressed the hope that the tradition of celebrating Diwali would continue to be practiced in a peaceful and harmonious manner.

"It is a day when happiness is shared with relatives and friends of different religious and cultural backgrounds. It is an opportunity to embrace our multi-ethnicity and strengthen our mutual understanding," he added.

Malaysia's cultural mosaic is marked by many different cultures. Chief among these is the ancient Malay culture, and the cultures of Malaysia's two most prominent trading partners throughout history -- the Chinese and the Indians.

"It is a day of merriment which should be celebrated with friends, including those of different faiths and cultures, Badawi was quoted as saying by the New Straits Times newspaper.

The Indian community in Malaysia accounts for about 11 percent of the country's total population over 25 million. Tamils, Malayalees and Telugu-speaking people make up over 85 percent of the people of Indian origin in the country.