“Malaysians are able to enjoy the prosperity and progressive development over the past 51 years because we have held firmly to the practice of tolerance and respect for one another,” he pointed out.

He said nobody should look down or try to degrade the religious beliefs or practices of other communities as such an attitude would cause disharmony among the people.

“Our forefathers’ efforts and sacrifices have made what Malaysia is today-a unique country with people of different races, different religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds living in harmony and peace,” he said.

The show which would be held for six consecutive evenings is meant to mark the 19th Procession of Tua Pek Gong scheduled to be held in the morning of Jan 1.

Meanwhile, Tiong also called on the Chinese community to put more efforts to unite and foster better rapport with the Bumiputera community. Although he acknowledged that the Chinese community comprises of various dialectic clans that should not hinder them from being united.

He also urged the leaders of the various Chinese associations and clans to make concerted efforts to foster rapport and understanding among themselves.

“If the Chinese community cannot be united, how are they going to achieve the goal of national unity and integration,” Tiong asked.

Touching on security, Tiong commended the untiring efforts of the police which led to the arrest of three armed foreign criminals here and the killing of four other foreigners earlier this month in connection with armed robberies.

Tiong also urged the people to provide quality information to police as combating crimes is a shared responsibility, between the people and the police.

He also reminded local traders not to buy any valuables or merchandises from unknown people.
“You must double check to ascertain that the valuables you are buying are not those reported stolen,” he said.

The show organising chairman, Lee Thien Yong, thanked Tiong for generously donating RM1 million for the renovation of the Tua Pek Gong Temple.

He added that with contributions from the devotees had enabled the completion of the temple’s renovation costing RM4 million.

Later, Tiong accompanied by Senator Pau Chiong Ung and Chairman of the Tua Pek Gong Progressive Committee, Sim Bang Hee, and other office-bearers, pressed a button to let off the fireworks display to mark the opening of the show.