Amid the increased racial tension of the past year, a multi-racial and festive Chinese New Year open house is aiming to foster understanding and unity among Malaysian society.

The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) and the Malaysian Muslim Chinese Association (Macma) jointly organised a Chinese New Year open house in Kuala Lumpur today which saw the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mujahid Yusof Rawa.

The open house was held to promote the beauty of a multi-racial and multi-religious society as well as to break the perception that one will become a Malay if they convert to Islam, according to Jakim...