Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak intends to continue with the tradition of his predecessors by visiting the iconic Batu Caves Hindu temple for the annual Thaipusam festival next year.

"Thirty years ago, the former prime ministers of Malaysia visited Batu Caves, I would like to announce that I intend to continue this tradition simply because I am the prime minster of all Malaysians," he said.

NONE Some 5,000 Indians, including tourists, gathered at the temple to welcome Najib's first visit to the place. The premier was there for the closing ceremony of the ‘1Malaysia’ carnival, which started on Friday.

"I believe it is important for us to respect each other, for us to believe this concept of oneness of being 1Malaysia," he said in his speech.

Former premiers namely Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Najib’s father Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussien Onn had visited the temple during their tenure as prime minister during the Thaipusam celebration, which draws some 1.3 million Hindu devotees and tourists annually.

NONE However, the tradition came to a stop during the premiership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

"If we are one people, if we are one nation (and) if we have one dream, we will be a stronger Malaysia," stressed Najib.

"I believe that this is the aspiration of all Malaysians, to see that we are all united, to see that we live in harmony and peace and to see that we can transform Malaysia and bring Malaysia to greater heights of success," he said.

As enshrined in the constitution, Najib stressed that it was important for all to respect the beliefs of other communities and ethnic groups.

"It is also incumbent upon us to make this part and parcel of the Malaysian society’s value system and way of life... that is the first basis of '1 Malaysia', it is about the changing the mindset of all Malaysians.

"If we are going to change our mindset from mere tolerance to one of total acceptance... it is a political reality and the Malaysian uniqueness, it is our strength not our weakness," he said.

Fund to develop Batu Caves

Acknowledging Batu Caves as a major tourist destination, Najib said the cabinet will allocate funds to develop the temple grounds.

"This will be the new beginning for the whole area of Batu Caves, in the context of tourism development and in the context of development of Malaysia as a whole," he said.

"We have to be together as 1 Malaysia, if we continue to bicker with one another, we can't proceed and cannot become a great nation.

NONE "1 Malaysia is not zero sum game, if we have help the Malaysian Indians, it does not mean we deprive what is rightful for the Malays and the Chinese," he added.

The premier stressed that these promises were not merely "words, slogans or political rhetoric".

"We are and we have taken action in terms of approving additional financial allocation and programmes to help the Indian community.

"We are going to prove in deeds that we are indeed a sincere government to the Indian community and all races in Malaysia so that we will prosper together," he said.