SIBU: Racial and religious polarisation are the biggest obstacles to social cohesion and national unity, says 1Malaysia Foundation trustee Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
Hence, Lee said it should be the responsibility of all Malaysians to reject polarisation in whatever form for the sake of racial and religious harmony, as well as national unity.
He pointed out that the immediate and most urgent task for all Malaysians today was to stand up and be counted to check the surge of racism, extremism and religious bigotry.
“For those who persist in making incendiary statements and instigate racial and religious tension, action should be taken against them without fear or favour in order to help restore public confidence in the process.
“Respect for one another’s culture and religion has been the hallmark of our multi-racial society. It is the duty of each and every Malaysian irrespective of race and religion to keep building respect among various religions in our multi-religious nation,” Lee said in his Chinese New Year message.
Lee added that building understanding and respect among the diverse ethnic groups based on the provisions in the Federal Constitution and the Rukun Negara was the key to peace and harmony in a multi-racial and multi-religious country like Malaysia.
He stressed that social cohesion and unity were ‘priceless gifts’ that must be preserved and cherished by all Malaysians in a multi-racial country like Malaysia.
“Multi-racial living and community are part of our history and heritage. They have become an important source of racial integration for many years and have certainly played a part in making Malaysia a harmonious place to live, learn, work and play.
“To me achieving unity among the diverse races, religions and cultures is the nation’s biggest challenge – the challenge that is key to our very survival,” Lee opined.
Lee added that as Malaysian Chinese celebrated the ‘Year of the Monkey,’ Malaysians of other races and religious faiths should use the festive occasion to further strengthen the bonds of friendship, inter-racial and inter-religious harmony in the true spirit of 1 Malaysia.
“Malaysia is unique in that the festive occasion of one ethnic group is also celebrated by other ethnic groups making our festive occasions truly multiracial in character,” he added.
Annual festivities like Hari Raya, Christmas, Deepavali and Chinese New Year are auspicious occasions for all races to cultivate harmony, goodwill, peace and unity.
“Every Malaysian should be fully committed to preserving harmony, goodwill and unity. Relentless efforts must be made by everyone to promote a culture of peace, harmony and unity,” Lee said.-Borneo Post
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