KUALA LUMPUR: The people will continue to support and have confidence in Barisan Nasional if the Government addresses the legitimate needs and grievances of each community, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

"The Government is sensitive to the needs and problems of the various races. We realise that each race has its own unique problems," he said.

He said that regardless of the policy introduced, be it the New Economic Policy or the National Development Policy, what was important was not the name but ensuring that the policy is fair and just to all races.

He added that maintaining cooperation and unity among the races was vital in ensuring the country's success and a more secure future.

"Understanding and respect among races is one of the country's pillars, which has been strong since Independence.

"We believe this an important formula to build a country that is successful, and based on good cooperation and unity among the people," Najib said at the national-level Deepavali celebration in Brickfields yesterday.

He said the country's founding leaders chose to work with the other races although they could have opted not to, and this structure led to the formation of Barisan.

"The strong cooperation between races is a formula and structure that still lasts. I am confident that the country's future would be guaranteed and protected if the structure continues to be defended by all Malaysians," he added.

For the Indian community, Najib said a Cabinet committee had been formed to address their needs, including economic and equity problems and education like turning SJK(T) schools to fully-aided ones.

"The Government has also set up a task force under the Home Ministry to solve the problem of more than 30,000 Malaysian Indians who are without identity cards or birth certificates," he said, adding that the identity card problem was faced by all races.

More than 10,000 people attended yesterday's celebration, including Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.