VERBATIM TEXT

 

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

 

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR BIN IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

 

 

AT

 

VISIT MALAYSIA 2026

VAISAKHI FEST

 

 

18^th APRIL 2026 (SATURDAY) | 6:00PM

MALAYSIA TOURISM CENTRE (MATIC), KUALA LUMPUR

 

 

 

Selamat sejahtera.

 

Kepada rakan-rakan, saya hadir untuk meraikan acara yang penting bagi rakyat Malaysia juga, sebab itu disambut bersama dengan Tahun Melawat Malaysia. Jadi, saya nak ucapkan selamat menyambut Vaisakhi kepada semua penganur-penganut Sikh di Malaysia ini.

 

Yang Berhormat Tuan Gobind Singh Deo,

Menteri Digital;

 

Yang Berhormat Tuan Chiew Choon Man,

Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan, Seni dan Budaya;

 

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Manoharan Periasamy,

Pengerusi Tourism Malaysia;

 

Yang Berbahagia Datuk Baldev Singh Kailay,

Presiden Kuala Lumpur Sikh Sports and Recreation Club (KLSSRC) dan seluruh kekuatan kesatuan yang sambut hari ini. Saya ucap terima kasih.

 

1. Pertama, saya minta maaf kerana lambat sikit sebab pesawat dari Kota Bharu tadi tak boleh turun, jadi nasib baik Dato Baldev dia ada baca-baca sikit, terus boleh turun.
2. Saya tentunya hadir untuk meraikan, dan ini kekuatan Malaysia. Sesetengah orang bila dia datang melawat Malaysia, dia lihat keperbagaian dan semangat tradisi pelbagai, apa lagi ada kaitan dengan agama ini perkara yang luar biasa.

 

3. Bagi kita di Malaysia, sukacita saya umumkan, bahawa kita anggap ini sebagai sebahagian dari budaya rakyat Malaysia, kekuatan yang membangkit, memperkuatkan semangat dan budaya kita.

 

4. So, our strength lies in our diversity, our cultures, traditions and communities are not merely markers of identity, but the very foundation of our unity. So, when we celebrate Vaisakhi, we not just honour a cherished tradition, but I think more importantly, as emphasized by Baldev and I’m sure Gobind, because you are actually creating this awareness the enduring spirit of service of togetherness of justice.

 

5. And the Sikh community in Malaysia has of course long played a vital role and for me personally the Sikh family was part of my family, part of my struggle, part of my decades in prison and in the courts.

 

6. So, we of course honour our dear Karpal Singh, but also the family and Gobind sometimes, I don’t know when he speaks in cabinet, I’m not sure whether he’s speaking as my counsel or a member of the cabinet. I have to remind him, Gobind you are here as a member of my cabinet, you not speak as my counsel, but that is the beauty of our relationship.

 

7. We not only emerge as close family friends, but we share the same spirit. We are from different cultures, race, religion but amazingly, this is a prime example how we struggle together, share our aspirations, show so much affection and love, because we are Malaysians and we believe in these cherished ideas.

 

8. So, thank you again to all of you and the Sikh community, Baldev. And I know even as a Muslim, I learned to even to address or give the proper address of the revered founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev J,i because it not only signifies reverence, affection, but also profoundly recognition of the teachings that contribute to the human spirit, the human endeavor.

 

9. Now, on those days I was in prison of course I could not engage with the Sikh community, but from time to time I was warded in the General Hospital, and either my immediate family, somehow they smuggled chapatti and dhal, and who on earth would come with chapati on Sunday to the hospital? It is the sense of dedication and devotion of Gurdwara and the Sikh community. Thank you very much.

 

10. So, the charitable world, there are interfaith efforts are certainly recognized. Baldev was kind enough not to mention what he request for me, but he has not been who can always whisper to me, but I think you are doing well of impudent funds for me, particularly at the time of economic crisis glory. But I think, to show appreciation part of the government, we passed through Gobind Singh Deo last week to the celebration Gurdwara in Shah Alam, a quarter million, trying for the Sikh community coordinated by Gobind Singh Deo. He didn’t ask you know, so I was a bit hesitant whether you approved, but of course we give the initial half a million ringgit to support the event.

 

Thank you very much. Thank you.