KUCHING: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak described national diving queen Pandelela Rinong’s win of the bronze medal at the Olympic Games as evidence that Malaysians can be successful on the world stage.

Such an achievement, which everyone can be proud of, required hard work and a great determination to succeed, he added.

“This morning my wife (Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor) and I woke up for sahur and we received the news, just like all other Malaysians, that a child of Sarawak had created history for our country.

“Pandelela, a Bidayuh, won a bronze medal in the 10 metre springboard diving event. She is small in stature but her spirit is big,” he said during the breaking of fast at the Sarawak State Assembly Building in Petra Jaya, here Friday.

Also present were Rosmah Mansor and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and about 1,000 guests.

Najib said people could also achieve success, especially in the month of Ramadan, through social unity, which was not limited to the Muslims only but also to non-Muslims, who loved peace and goodwill.

“The underlying philosophy of worship is towards unity,” he said, adding that this approach was practiced by the Barisan Nasional (BN) government right from the beginning to the present moment.

He said Malaysia adhered to moderation in building a nation, with the principle of mutual respect as a priority.

“We reject extremism, fanaticism or violence and this is one of the tenets of our religion,” he said.

Najib then distributed aid to the Sarawak Orphans Welfare Board and Salvation Army before performing the Magrib and Ishak prayers with the public, followed by the Terawih prayers. –Bernama