PUTRAJAYA, Feb. 23 -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told foreign diplomats this evening that Malaysia's survival as a multiracial and multireligious nation rests on its ability to embrace one another as a single family.

At the Foreign Affairs Ministry's breaking-of-fast event at Wisma Putra, Anwar said the country's stability is rooted in mutual respect across racial and religious lines.

"Our survival depends on our ability and capacity to embrace one another as one great family," he said, noting that the spirit of accommodation is consistently displayed during major festivals.

He cited Chinese New Year, Pongal and now Ramadan as examples, pointing to a Chinese community event held early to accommodate Muslims observing the f...