A divided Malaysia celebrates National Day with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim rallying for unity
- In a televised speech on the eve of National Day, Anwar appealed to Malaysians not to let their differences ruin the nation
- Racial and religious divides deepened in Malaysia after the November 2022 general elections led to the rise of a strong Islamic-Malay nationalist opposition bloc
Fireworks were set off in various locations at midnight to usher in National Day. Tens of thousands of people thronged the government administrative capital of Putrajaya early on Thursday for the main procession, waving national flags and cheering as bands, dancers and convoys of vehicles went past.
We can choose to continue to sow doubt and suspicion, political and racial hatred or we can choose to say that enough is enough
In a televised speech on the eve of National Day, Anwar appealed to Malaysians not to let their differences ruin the nation. He warned that powerful nations have collapsed not just due to mismanagement or corruption but because they “played with fires of ethnic and religious fanaticism.”
“Don’t take this lightly … our differences can be a strength or a force that can destroy the fabrics of society and the country,” said Anwar, who took power in November after a divisive general election.
“We can choose to continue to sow doubt and suspicion, political and racial hatred or we can choose to say that enough is enough.”
