Right to practise own religion guaranteed, says DPM

The basis of harmony arises from mutual respect for every faith, says Muhyiddin Yassin.

KUALA LUMPUR: The celebration of various religious festivals in an atmosphere of harmony is clear evidence of the existing close relations among the various races and religions in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said today.

He said the basis of this harmony among the people of the various religions arose from the mutual respect of the people for every religion practised in the country.

Muhyiddin said that though Islam was the official religion of the country, the right of every citizen to practise his or her own religion in peace and harmony was enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

“This has been established in Malaysia for a long time. It is common for Malaysians to extend festival greetings to their friends from other faiths,” he said in his address at the Wesak Day Open House at Wisma Dharma Cakra, Buddhist Maha Vihara, in Brickfields, here.

Muhyiddin said the government not only allowed the building of houses of worship of every religion, but also declared public holidays on festival days to enable the people to celebrate the festivals in a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere.

Muhyiddin said the Wesak Day public holiday, declared in 1962 by then prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, was evidence of the government’s recognition of the position and role of Buddhists in the country.

He said that about 19% of the people in the country were Buddhists, many of them from among the Chinese community.

“The government encourages the multi-religious community to take advantage of the opportunity (of the festivals) to express respect. I believe this practice of expressing respect should continue to be cultivated. Hopefully, this will help to strengthen solidarity and harmony,” he said.

He said he was happy with the role played by the leaders of the various religions in the country in ensuring continued harmony among the people, adding that the harmony would help maintain the peace and prosperity of the country.

He said Malaysia’s experience and success as a multiracial and multi-religious country was known to the world.

Good relations

Muhyiddin said foreign leaders and visitors were often amazed at the good relations among the people of various faiths in the country, which they might regard as unusual.

In fact, in Malaysia, houses of worship of the various religions are located close to one another, such as in Brickfields, and this is the manifestation and the willingness to recognise and accept the diversity in the country.

At the event, also attended by several ministers and deputy ministers, Muhyiddin planted a sapling in the compound of Wisma Dharma Cakra.

Buddhists and visitors took the opportunity to shake hands with the deputy prime minister.

Meanwhile, thousands of Buddhists and others as well as tourists thronged the Wesak Day celebrations from early today to, among other things, receive blessings from the priests.

In GEORGE TOWN, thousands of Buddhists thronged the Malaysian Buddhist Association at Burmah Road and the Penang Buddhist Association at Anson Road for prayers since last night.

Penang Wesak celebrations committee chairman Dr Loh Hock Hun said preparations for this year’s Wesak Day celebrations, carrying the theme “Cultivate loving kindness, foster harmony”, had begun in mid-April.

Wesak Day has been celebrated in Penang for over 35 years.

Loh said the Wesak Day procession tonight was expected to be attended by more than 10,000 Buddhists.

“A total of 18 floats decorated with lotus flowers and Buddha statues will lead the procession of devotees over a 7km distance,” he said.

The Wesak Day procession will start at the MBA in Burmah Road and wind through Pangkor Road, Kelawei Road, Perak Lane, Peel Avenue, Macalister Road and Madras Lane.

- Bernama