Malaysian Government cancels all new year celebrations

SUNGAI PETANI: The Government will cancel all celebrations to usher in the New Year and replace it with conduct prayer sessions to console those affected by the tsunami disaster.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he had directed all the respective states to cancel all such celebrations.

"We are going through hard times now, with hundreds of people affected by the disaster," he said.

"There are many who have been rendered become homeless in one the biggest tragedies the country has encountered and this is not the time for us to be happy ushering in the New Year," he said.

He said people should instead, pray for the welfare of the affected victims.

"We need to pray so that God gives the affected victims strength patience to endure the hardship they are going through now," he said.

Abdullah said he wanted all mosques in the country to focus on prayers for those affected by the tidal waves at their Friday sermons tomorrow.

"We pray that the affected victims gather courage to accept the tragedy and find ways to go through the ordeal with the support from all quarters," he said at Kota Kuala Muda, near here, Wednesday.

"This should be our prayers during New Year's Eve. Non-Muslims can also conduct similar prayers."

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Alhamdulillah, it is very heart lifting to know that there won't be all the haram things that usually happen every year, intentionally.

rabbana ghfirlana dhunubana wa liikhwanina alladhina sabaquuna bil iiman wa la taj'al fii quluubina ghillalli lladhina aamanu, rabbanaa, innaka rauufu rahiim.