The BN is a moderate force which does not impose its beliefs that impinge on the rights of others, says MCA president Chua Soi Lek.

“For BN, it adopts a consensus and moderate approach and respects individual rights to religion, culture and tradition. This is important because of Malaysia’s multiracial composition.

“We cannot go about imposing our beliefs on others. This is not democracy but hypocrisy,” he said in a Deepavali message released today.

In wishing the Hindu community Happy Deepavali, Chua said it is challenging to maintain a balance between all the races, something that Pakatan Rakyat lacked experience on, especially with PAS’ ambition to implement hudud law.

“The people’s continued support and trust in the government is vital to provide the impetus for more benefits to cascade down to all levels of society,” he said.

Chua said that the country has been able to grow robustly due to the government’s policies and ability to provide political stability.

He noted that a total of RM100 million had been allocated for national-type Tamil schools and another RM50 million had been set aside to provide training for 3,200 Indian Malaysians in estates.

Deepavali, he said, was an integral part of Malaysia’s cultural diversity and Malaysians should rally rally together to ensure a better country.

  Kit Siang: Triumph of truth, freedom and justice

In his Deepavali message, DAP Supremo Lim Kit Siang asked that Deepavali 2012 usher in a festival of light over darkness and the triumph of truth, freedom and justice over all forms of corruption, discrimination and exploitation, especially in the impending 13th general elections.

NONE He said that 55 years after Merdeka in 1957, many Malaysians had been left out of the mainstream of developments with the fruits of growth and progress hijacked by a small group of privileged people and their cronies, while the large majority of Malaysians, regardless of race, religion and territory, had been marginalised and discriminated against.

"Deepavali 2012, would be will be most meaningful if it set into motion a train of developments culminating in the 13th general election, where these historic injustices and inequalities, whether political, economic, educational, social, cultural and religious, are put right," he concluded.