KUALA LUMPUR: Political and community leaders have called for the spirit of tolerance and understanding to be upheld to create a conducive national environment.
MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said everyone should respect and honour freedom of religion as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
“There is no point talking about racial unity if we lack understanding about the religious and cultural sensitivities of all races,” he said in his National Day message.
He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had propagated the 1Malaysia concept so that all Malaysians would feel proud to be Malaysians despite their different religious and cultural backgrounds.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said Malaysians, irrespective of race, must feel a sense of belonging to the country.
He said a new ray of hope had been brought about with the introduction of the 1Malaysia concept.
“As citizens, all Malaysians have rights that must be protected,” said the MIC secretary-general.
Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said the people should celebrate the 52nd Merdeka Day in the spirit of 1Malaysia.
“As explained by our Prime Minister, the essence of 1Malaysia is unity in diversity. This means that we should accept, respect and celebrate diversity, while forging and consolidating unity and understanding,” he said in his National Day message.
Irresponsible politicking and exploiting race and religion was damaging the multi-racial and multi-cultural fabric of Malaysia, said DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.
He said recent events such as the protest against the construction of a Hindu temple in a Muslim-majority area in Shah Alam last Friday threatened to harden intolerant attitudes.
“There is a further polarisation of race and religion with the hardening of intolerant attitudes and stances, said the Ipoh Timur MP in his National Day message.
Lim’s son, Guan Eng, who is the Penang Chief Minister, said that despite over half a century of independence, many quarters were still stoking unrest using racial issues.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop urged Malaysians to go beyond racial tolerance to accept each other’s differences in cultural and religious practices.
“It is not just tolerating each other because we have been forced to live together by geography and history,” he told reporters in Sungai Dua, Butterworth, yesterday.
Hindu Sangam adviser Datuk A. Vaithilingam said the Prime Minister had rightfully emphasised the need for unity through the 1Malaysia concept.
He said Najib’s aspirations to unite all Malaysians as patriotic citizens should be fulfilled.
“Let us all get together, sit, talk, hear the grievances and try to understand and find ways to resolve them,” he added.
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