Malaysia remains strong as long as leaders, thinkers unite - Tun M

SHAH ALAM - Each state that makes up Malaysia today will remain firmly intact as long as leaders and thinkers believe in the power of unity.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that being together over a period 60 years, there had certainly been times when some would become uncomfortable with one another.

However, he said that it was a normal scenario under any unification of a number of states.

"Six decades is not a short period of time and during that period, we went through a lot together. There are sweet memories and also bitter ones.

"No matter what, we need to look back when we want to move forward. The original purpose of establishing Malaysia was to ensure that communist influence would not get a hold of the Malay Peninsula, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak.

"Even though Singapore is no longer part of us, we had successfully stopped the communists from stepping their foot over.

“We had also agreed to be together as an effort towards the independence of Sabah and Sarawak. We have also achieved this," he said in a statement in conjunction with Malaysia Day today.

Dr Mahathir added that he anticipated the nation to be able to expand its economy and progress together.

Therefore, he hoped that the people would celebrate Malaysia Day in such a spirit that forms the basis of unity.

"Our unity is in diversity and our diversity is in unity. We celebrate it without setting aside the origins and denying the history of the formation of this nation.

"Happy Malaysia Day. May Allah bless us all," he wished.