The holiday season is around the corner again. Just as it was during the recent Deepavali and Hari Raya holidays, there will be many unsung heroes out there who will be toiling non-stop to ensure that the rest of us have a good time during Christmas and New Year break.

While we all were busy feasting and being merry during this festive holiday period, thousands of other Malaysians, including the police, the armed forces, the toll collectors, the road sweepers, the restaurant workers, the petrol pump attendants as well as the many immigrant workers like maids and cleaners will doing a normal full day's of work, not forgetting some media-related staff.

We all thank them for their willingness to draw the short straw without which people like me may not enjoy the holidays to the maximum. The nation salutes you unsung heroes.

In the same light, we also must spare a moment for the millions suffering elsewhere either dying from hunger at Darfur, being killed in conflict in the Ivory Coast, being shot to death in Fallujah or being bulldozed out of their houses in Palestine.

We pray that they too, will one day enjoy peaceful festive holidays just like we do.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2005 to all!