Source: Daily Express

http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=45066

The "kongsi raya" activity of sharing the joy of festivities as practised by Malaysians does not tarnish the sanctity of Islam, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Wednesday.

It also does not at all involve any conflict of the faith of Muslims, he added. "Kongsi raya" did not mean the blending of all customs and religious aspects of Islam and Hinduism, for example, he said at the presentation of Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Deepavali goodies to staff of the Prime Minister's Office, here.

"It is not as though non-Muslims go to the mosque or Muslims go to the temple," he said.

Hindus will celebrate Deepavali on Saturday while Muslims will celebrate Aidilfitri next Tuesday or Wednesday.

Abdullah said the people of either faith acted according to what was required of them by their respective religions.

As the two festivals fall close to one another, Malaysians celebrate them in togetherness, he said.