| Port Klang, Malaysia | 25 April 2016 | Asia Samachar
By Jasrinder Kaur
Canadian defence minister Harjit Singh Sajjan shared a message for Sikhs in Malaysia at a press conference on a Canadian patrol frigate at Port Klang today.
“We have a responsibility to the world,” he said, when prompted for a message for the Sikh community by Asia Samachar.
Harjit, one of the five Sikh ministers in the Canadian Cabinet under Prime Minister Justin Tredeau, said that he was made aware of attempts by Malaysian Sikhs to have a meet and greet session with him, but ‘regrettably’ his schedule was too tight.
“I found out from my staff and the social media about the invite… I would love to be able to meet with them,” he said in response to a question posed by Asia Samachar.
Harjit, who had been a Canadian police and a soldier, said he was ‘fortunate’ to have had the opportunity to serve.
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He said his ‘good friend’, who served as the first Sikh in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RMCP), was born here in Malaysia.
He noted that Malaysia and Canada share certain similarities, including a diverse population, a progressive and pluralistic environment, and having made tremendous progress.
“We are all one community, whether its the Sikh or anybody else,” he said.
Harjit is on a three-day official visit to Malaysia since yesterday. Earlier today, he met Malaysian minister for defence Hishamuddin Hussein and foreign minister Anifah Aman.
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