KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 3): Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak repeated his "nambikei" (trust) call today, asking the Indian community to work together with the government to overcome the challenges they faced.

He said that the government remains committed to help the Indian community in achieving the success it strives for, Bernama reported.

The message was part of his statement in conjunction with the Thaipusam festival tomorrow. The statement was published on his website, www.najibrazak.com .

"As our Hindu brothers and sisters observe this day by offering prayers of thanksgiving and fulfilling their vows at temples throughout the country, let us come together in solidarity to show our respect for each other’s religious festivals," he said.

"As Malaysian Hindus mark the auspicious festival of Thaipusam, we are, once again reminded of our rich and diverse culture.

"We are indeed blessed that people of different faiths and ethnicities live together in peace and harmony."

The prime minister had previously used the term "nambikei" at the 2013 National Ponggal Celebrations in February 2013, at Dataran Merdeka, in Kuala Lumpur, three months before the general election.

He had said at the time, "Please give me ‘nambikei’ (trust), please believe and have confidence in me. If you give me and the BN government ‘nambikei’ we will certainly do more for the success of the Indian community in the country."

Thaipusam, a religious festival devoted to the Hindu god Lord Subramaniam, takes place today and will be celebrated nationwide, especially in Batu Caves in Selangor and Waterfall Road in George Town, Penang.

According to Bernama, more than three million devotees, spectators and tourists, both local and foreign, are expected to converge at these two locations, among others.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Malaysians were still at peace with each other thanks to their rationale attitude. He added it helped to overcome the elements that are out to destroy unity and cause racial discord in the country.

"We are also thankful because the people support the government's efforts to preserve the peace in the country using existing laws," Bernama reported him as saying in a statement in conjunction with Thaipusam.

On Thaipusam, Muhyiddin said he hoped Malaysian Hindus would help further the racial harmony, unity and patriotism in the country besides contributing to national development and the people's wellbeing.

Bernama reported the DPM as saying that Thaipusam, like other major festivals, could be celebrated full of joy by not only Hindus but all Malaysians who loved peace, harmony and multi-racial unity.

He added that any large scale religious celebrations in the country were only possible because it was the manifestation of the freedom of religion promoted by the government.

"Although Islam is recognised as the official religion of the federation and Muslims form the majority of the population, it does not negate the freedom of others to practise their own faiths.

"It is also the same with language, culture and customs. Each community is free to practice their own language, culture and customs without any restrictions," he said, according to Bernama.

"These freedoms must be valued by Malaysians in this blessed land. In some countries, minorities are discriminated and their rights trampled on.

"But this does not happen in Malaysia. The rights and freedoms are protected by the Constitution and the country's laws," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

"This formula has been accepted since Merdeka. Its effectiveness is proven because Malaysia is a success story," he said.