The silent majority will continue to support the country's leadership despite some extremists' attempt to split the unity among Malaysians, said Najib Abdul Razak.

The prime minister said he strongly believed that the silent majority among the people would not be easily influenced and believed whatever agenda and issues being brought up by the extremist group.

"Only some quarters like the extremists tried to sensationalise small issues and divide us apart. We must never bow to their negative vibes and elements.

"We must remember, the integration and unity among the majority will place Malaysia in a situation that is harmonious, strong and stable in the coming years," he said at the second Ugadi Open House celebration in Dataran Merdeka today

His text of speech was read by Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Also present his deputy Loga Bala Mohan, People's Progressive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas and former MIC president S Samy Vellu.

Najib said the government was always committed in maintaining and protecting the wellbeing of all communities in this country.

Challenges faced by Indians

Touching on the Indian community in Malaysia, he said the government would continue to increase efforts to improve their standard of living despite facing some problems and challenges in the process of achieve it.

"I must admit that there are still problems and challenges being faced by the community that need attention from the government," he said.

The prime minister said the government had collected inputs and opinions from every quarters in the Indian community to raise their standard of living in preparing the 11th Malaysia Plan that would be tabled soon.

According to him, the government always acknowledged the initiatives taken by the non governmental organisations (NGO) in protecting the wellbeing of the community.

    

"We heard their (NGOS) voices and opinions in helping us. That is why we helped them by allocate financial aid," he added.

Ugadi is the new year celebration for the Telugu community which in Sanskrit means 'the beginning of a new era.'

More than 1,000 members of the Telugu committee from throughout the country as well as tourists attended the Ugadi Open House celebration which was organised by the Telugu Association of Malaysia.

- Bernama