KUALA LUMPUR - MALAYSIA'S leader called for unity and urged the country's Muslims to be grateful for a strong economy on Saturday to mark the end of the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.

In his Eid al-Fitr message, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Malaysia's Muslims should be thankful for a peaceful Ramadan, unlike some countries in the Middle East plagued by conflict and neighbouring Indonesia, which experienced a deadly earthquake.

Mr Abdullah, his Muslim Cabinet ministers and Malaysian King Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, began the Eid celebrations on Saturday with prayers at the national mosque with some 5,000 people, national Bernama news agency said.

Malaysia was fortunate to have strong economic growth, peace and stability since independence from Britain five decades ago, he said, urging the multiracial population to unite.

'No one had expected that a weak and backward country, after being colonized for many years, could emerge as one of the most progressive nations among the developing countries within only 50 years,' he said.

'This has been possible due to the wisdom of the country's leadership all this while, as well as the solidarity of the people,' he said.

Malay Muslims make up some 60 per cent of Malaysia's 27 million people. Ethnic Chinese comprise a quarter of the population and Indians about 10 per cent.

Mr Abdullah and his family earlier visited the grave of his late wife Endon Mahmood, who died in 2005 after a long battle with breast cancer, his aides said. He remarried in June to a longtime family friend, Jeanne Abdullah.

More than 15,000 people were expected to attend a public reception Saturday hosted by Abdullah and Muslim Cabinet ministers in Kuala Lumpur, officials said.

Meanwhile, some 5,200 policemen were deployed nationwide on a three-week road safety campaign launched Oct 7 to ensure safe passage for millions of city dwellers heading back to their villages to celebrate Eid. -- AP