Malay Indians well placed to bridge friendship between India, Malaysia: PM - India News and Travel Times Provides India-centric and other News and Features

Visiting Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Wednesday praised the Indian community in Malaysia for their contribution to the country's development. Dr. Singh, who is on the second leg of his Asian trip, said this during the inauguration of 'Little India' in Kuala Lumpur. "The Indian community has made important contributions to the development of Malaysia during the past hundred years. They have worked with sincerity and dedication. They have excelled at medicine, law, engineering and accountancy. They have participated at each stage in the building of Malaysia," Dr. Singh said. "The Malaysian Government's decision to dedicate the area of Brickfields, which is one of the oldest Indian settlements in the country, as 'Little India' is a tribute to the contribution to nation building of all Malaysians of Indian origin," he added. On this 'special occasion', Dr. Singh announced that India would be presenting a 'Torana Gate' to the residents of Brickfields as a mark of India-Malaysia friendship. "In the long march of history the paths of India and Malaysia have often crossed. We share close bonds of history and culture. We are pluralistic nations, committed to a composite culture that is unique and tolerant of the diversity in our societies," Dr. Singh said. "Swami Vivekananda, one of India's greatest philosophers, once said that "Variety is the first principle of life." Brickfields embodies that principle. It is a place in which the three communities of Malaysia live in peace and harmony with each other," he added. He further highlighted that improving ties with Malaysia would be a very high priority of India's foreign policy in the years ahead. "Dato' Sri Najib (Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak) has extended his hand of friendship to India. I fully reciprocate his friendship. After my discussions with Dato' Sri Najib today, I can say with confidence that India-Malaysia relations are poised for significant expansion in the coming years," he said.