- Saturday, April 27, 2024
They discussed India’s progress under the prime minister at an event in Kuala Lumpur organised by the Indian Minorities Foundation in association with the NID Foundation.
By: Shubham Ghosh
PROMINENT members of the Indian diaspora in Malaysia on Sunday (17) praised prime minister Narendra Modi’s “strong and progressive leadership” for the nation’s ‘rapid transformation’ during the last decade and his “vision of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region”.
Speaking at a ‘Sadbhavana’ event (event for religious tolerance) titled ‘India’s Global Odyssey for Communal Harmony and World Peace’ in Kuala Lumpur, eminent dignitaries, business leaders, vice-chancellors, academicians and members of the Indian community attributed India’s ascent to global prominence as a testament to the nation’s advancement in technology and economic prowess under Modi in past 10 years, the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) stated in a press release.
The event was organised by the Indian Minorities Foundation (IMF) in association with the NID Foundation in the Malaysian capital.
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The dignitaries said at the event that the Indian prime minister fulfilled aspirations of millions by building the Ram temple in the northern holy town of Ayodhya and reconnecting youth with India’s rich heritage and culture.
A ‘Malaysia Resolution’ was also passed at the event, with the Indian community pledging their support for India’s progress and actively contributing to PM Modi’s vision of a Viksit Bharat (developed India) by 2047.
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A book titled ‘Igniting Collective Goodness: Mann Ki Baat@100’, which is an account of the Indian PM’s dialogue sessions with India since October 2014, was also launched at the Sadhbhavna event.
IMF convenor Satnam Singh Sandhu, who is also a member of the Rajya Sabha or Upper House of the Indian parliament, presided over this event, which was attended by India’s deputy high commissioner to Kuala Lumpur, Subashini Narayanan and NID founder Himani Sood, as well as other dignitaries and esteemed members of the Malaysia-based Indian community, the IMF stated further in its release.
At the event, the members of the Indian community hailed the “most successful Indian Prime Minister, whose good governance is behind the country’s impressive growth story and inclusive development, which has led to the upliftment of 25 crore Indians out of poverty during the past 10 years”.
The Indian community said they now feel proud to be aligned with PM Modi and a rising India under his leadership has boosted the self-esteem and confidence of non-resident Indians and persons of Indian origin.
Hailing the country’s growth, Ramesh Kodammal, co-chairman of ASEAN India Business Council, said India has been growing aggressively in different sectors in the past 10 years, adding that Malaysia and other members of the ASEAN nation want to be part of India’s growth story. He also recalled Modi’s first visit to Malaysia after assuming office, according to the press release.
“India is really growing fast today. In the past 10 years, the GDP figures have moved up, infrastructural development has moved forward and trade with India has improved. The trade between India and Malaysia has surpassed the USD 100 billion mark today and trade figures with other ASEAN nations are also increasing. This shows there is a positive sign coming ahead,” he said.
“India has got various platforms; the digital platform is moving forward, pharma platform and infrastructure — all moving forward. Malaysia and ASEAN Nations can participate in India’s growth story. On his first visit after becoming PM, Modi ji came to Malaysia in 2015 and he was very positive about the linkages of India-Malaysia and ASEAN nations, he felt that there is something in Malaysia and the region and that we could work together to improve ourselves and move greater heights which has been happening now,” he added.
Modi visited the South-east Asian nation twice after becoming the prime minister — in 2015 and 2017.
Daljit Singh, former senator in the Upper House of Parliament of Malaysia and a businessman, said India has been ‘aggressive and progressive’ under PM Modi’s leadership, adding that the country is “all over the universe today.”
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has not only been aggressive but very progressive. India is all over the universe today; top CEOs and top 100 companies of the world today operated by Indians. We have a lot to learn and a lot to approach,” he said.
“India’s leadership has gone to a level where recognition is beyond imagination today. More than 25 crore people have been moved out of poverty in India under the Modi government; this is indeed a very big number. I want to congratulate the Indian government for significant strides made in all sectors and hope to continue this strong link all the time,” he added.
Sandhu said India has embarked on a new era of transformation under Modi’s leadership. He stressed that Malaysia lagged in progress despite gaining independence a decade after India.
“Despite Malaysia gaining independence a decade after India, our nation significantly lagged in progress compared to Malaysia’s rapid success and development. The key factor behind this divergence was leadership, a quality Malaysia possessed but was unfortunately lacking in India,” Sandhu added.
Koh Swe Yong, secretary general of the People’s Party of Malaysia, said, “India is playing a big role in promoting and restoring peace and harmony in the world today. The relationship between India and Malaysia assumes greater significance as we both have multi-racial, multi-religious and multilingual societies. When the entire world is at war, we can become that force to promote and restore peace and stability in the world order.
“We can learn a lot from the Modi government in the sense that the remarkable work he has done for communal harmony and peace in India. Today, owing to the global leadership role that PM Modi assumes, the entire world has become his family.”
A group of ‘Bhartiya Nari Shakti’ in Malaysia, expressed gratitude to PM Modi for recognising the need for women’s prosperity for the nation’s prosperity and progress, which was never even considered important earlier. Indian women in Malaysia further stressed the need for continuity of Modi’s leadership for another 10 years for women’s empowerment and India’s overall development, similar to the progress over the last 10 years under him.
The Sikh Community in Malaysia expressed gratitude to PM Modi for his efforts towards the country’s progress and the welfare of Sikhs. Calling themselves ‘Modi Ka Parivar’ (Modi’s family), a group of Malaysian-based Sikh community members praised the efforts of the government led by PM Modi for actively engaging and collaborating with the Indian community in Malaysia, particularly with the Sikh community.
A group of Tamils in Malaysia praised PM Modi for his visionary leadership, saying, “Tamils in Malaysia stand with PM Modi. He has brought tremendous glory to the country over the past decade, and in the upcoming elections, we anticipate his return to the premiership for further progress of Tamil Nadu, for the progress of India”, according to the press release.
(With ANI inputs)
