PUTRAJAYA: MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel will make a proposal to the Government to set aside two days of public holiday for the Deepavali celebrations.

Malaysia currently observes a one-day public holiday for the festival, which is predominantly celebrated by the Indian community.

“Deepavali is an important festival that is celebrated by Hindus, Indians (and the) Sikhs throughout the world.

“Those days it used to be a one-day festival, nowadays it has become a 30-day festival.

“I will speak to the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, on the proposal) in a few days time because everybody get two days, isn’t it?

“The Chinese also get two days (public holiday for the Chinese New Year),” Palanivel said when delivering his Deepavali message from his office at the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, here, Wednesday.

– THE STAR