Another effort by the authority aimed at promoting goodwill and
understanding between the people of diverse religious backgrounds was
the conscious attempt at giving national significance of religious celebrations,
so that these were celebrated not only by the adherents of a
particular religion, but also by the rest of the populations. Apart from
making these occasions public holidays, the government within the last
ten years or so started to organize ‘open house’ at national and state levels to celebrate these events. Thus, Idl-fitri is celebrated by not only
Muslim, but by people of other religions as well. In the same way, Chinese
New Year is celebrated not by Chinese only. Other Malaysians are
free to join in the merry-making. So is Deepavali, Christmas, and
Wesak. Each of these are celebrated not only by Hindus, Christians and
Buddhists respectively. Other Malaysian are free to participate as well.
These ‘open houses’ are attended by national and state leaders who,
without fail, always remind the people of the need celebrate and
embrace religious diversity as a way of life.