In addition to congratulations, the PM expressed his admiration of courage of the project director of the Chinese New Year Festival, Xu Wen Chuah who sent the invitation to him personally during his official visit to Penang for Chinese New Year in January.
The speech was delivered by Senator Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, who was present to spend time opening celebration of Chinese New Year Festival held at the Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra (DTSP) today.
Tsu Koon said USM students should be proud to have organized the program, which reflects the idea of a Malaysia where all parties to celebrate diversity and culture regardless of race.
"We must be grateful to have harmony in diversity, and at the same time the uniqueness of each community, thus contributing to the unity of people in this country,'' he said.
Also present was the Vice-Chancellor of USM, Assoc. Dato 'Omar Osman and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs and Development, Assoc. Adnan Hussein.
The celebration of Chinese New Year Festival held at the USM campus every year to celebrate cultural diversity among college undergraduates acts as a platform to strengthen race relations.
It also popularises the celebration of the event to international students of the university.
