68th ANNUAL DIWALI NITE 2018

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG
AT 68th ANNUAL DIWALI NITE 2018

4 NOVEMBER 2018
MAJESTIC THEATRE

 

Yang Berbahagia Tan Sri Dato’ Seri (Dr.) Haji Mohd Yussof bin Latif
President of Penang State Consultative Goodwill Council

Mr Shashikant Popatlal Gathani
President Gujarati Samaj Penang

Trustees of Gujarati Samaj Penang:
i) Dato’ Dr. P.P. Shah
ii) Mr Hamendra Kamdar
iii) Dato’ Jugal Kishor Shivlal

Members of Penang State Consultative Goodwill Council

Distinguished guests

Members of the media

Ladies and gentlemen

Good afternoon to all of you.

First of all, let me thank the President and Management Committee of Gujarati Samaj Penang for inviting me and my wife as the Guest of Honour for this year’s 68th Annual Diwali Nite.

Established in 1950, the management committee of Gujarati Samaj Penang never failed to make this annual event successful. Personally, I have known some of you for quite some time already and have been pleasantly surprised a committee with 130 members only can be very committed and put so much efforts in preserving your culture, tradition and language.

The Gujaratis though small in numbers, are an enterprising and active community. And your success in the various fields are a testimony to your unity and strength as a community. Moreover, your aspirations and efforts in ensuring that your community members are united through your cultural, religious and sporting activities is very admirable.

And this is in line with the efforts by the Penang State Government to promote, encourage and nourish cultural nuances between the various communities that call this island of ours home.

And on an annual basis, the strength of our people and their culture is showcased through the active involvement of various communities during the George Town Heritage Festival, which was in its 10th year. Thus, we thank Gujarati Samaj Penang for participating in this event as well as participating recently in the International Conference on Managing Urban Cultural Heritage (MUCH) from the 1st to 4th October 2018.

I am happy that so many of you have taken the time to join in tonight’s festivity. It is important that we try to further enhance the spirit of mutual understanding and goodwill within our multi-racial communities. Events to celebrate major festivals, just like Deepavali, will help reinforce our respect for all communities in the country.

In the festive spirit of Diwali, we count our blessings that we live in peace, harmony and prosperity with one another.

Happy Deepavali everyone!

Thank you.