Credit : Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's X
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim joined members of the Indian community at the Deepavali 2026 open house organised by MIC and the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED) on November 8, 2026, after first calling on the family home of Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan.
In a post shared on his X account, Anwar said he visited Ramanan’s family residence before heading to the open house to celebrate with friends from the Indian community. He noted that MIC president Tan Sri S.A. Vigneswaran was also present.
“This cultural diversity is our uniqueness in Malaysia that we must celebrate, preserve and protect, and it is surely our responsibility as citizens for the harmony and stability of this beloved country,” he wrote in Malay, ending his message with “Deepavali Nalvaalthukkal!”
According to Bernama, the open house was held at Mansion Oncidium Hall in Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam, and drew nearly 3,000 guests from various ethnic backgrounds. Anwar was welcomed by Vigneswaran, who is also MIED chairman, and spent time mingling with guests and dining with political leaders, including former prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob and MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The Star reported that the Prime Minister arrived at the hall at 11.10am to loud applause and was ushered in to the beat of traditional Indian drums. Guests dressed in sarees, salwar kameez, veshtee and jippa filled the venue, while local artistes performed dances to Kollywood, Bollywood and Malay songs. MIED is the educational and scholarship arm of MIC, offering loans and scholarships to Malaysian Indian students.
Speaking at the event, Vigneswaran said the celebration showed that Malaysians could live in harmony and share in the joy of festivals throughout the year. “This proves that celebrations like this are a clear platform for integration among the races. Although there are differences in political backgrounds, events like this can set them aside for the sake of togetherness,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.
He added that he hoped Malaysians would keep their close ties and turn them into a source of strength as the country moved towards comprehensive progress.
Wee, meanwhile, said the gathering was not only lively but also reflected the unique diversity of Malaysians. “This is truly the spirit of goodwill that has long existed among Malaysians, and it must be preserved for the prosperity of our beloved country,” he said.
The highlight of the open house came when Anwar cut a cake, accompanied by Vigneswaran and Wee, to mark this year’s celebration.
The visit is the latest in a series of Deepavali engagements by the Prime Minister this festive season. Earlier, he joined shoppers at the Brickfields Mega Bazaar in Kuala Lumpur and attended a Deepavali celebration in Melaka, where he spoke about the festival of lights as a symbol of truth triumphing over falsehood and urged Malaysians to strengthen mutual respect across communities.
Anwar has repeatedly stressed that Malaysia’s strength lies in its people’s willingness to respect one another’s traditions, cultures and beliefs, and that no community should feel left behind in the country’s development. His latest message once again framed the country’s multicultural fabric as something every citizen has a duty to safeguard.
The cross-party presence at the MIC-MIED open house, with leaders from different political camps sharing the same table, was highlighted by the organisers as a reflection of the festive spirit that brings Malaysians together regardless of political affiliation.
Some details in this report are from Bernama. Life News Agency thanks Bernama.
Source: https://x.com/anwaribrahim/status/2119348558675706315
Credit : Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s X
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