PAS, which continues to struggle to win the hearts and minds of Chinese voters, has stressed the importance of a more moderate path, though critics argue that its leaders and policies often suggest otherwise.
In the party’s Chinese New Year greeting, its secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan highlighted the timeless wisdom of Chinese philosopher Confucius, who reminded that “harmony is something to be cherished”.
“In our society of diverse backgrounds, harmony does not mean uniformity, but rests upon mutual respect and understanding. When we uphold order, courtesy, and justice, we also reinforce the foundations of unity and harmony among us,” he said.
Takiyuddin (above) also cited Lao Tzu’s warning against going overboard and extremism, which he described as poisons that bring damage and destruction, cautioning that “when something reaches its extreme, the turning back has already begun”.
“In conjunction with this New Year celebration, let us renew our resolve and commitment to choose the path of moderation, patience, honesty, and wisdom as enduring guiding principles in building a healthy and meaningful shared future,” the PAS leader said.
Takiyuddin noted that the New Year is a time for gathering with family, relatives, and friends in the spirit of kinship and brotherhood, embracing gratitude, joy, and well-being.
“In the spirit of mutual respect and understanding, let us continue to strengthen unity, uphold justice, and work together in building a prosperous and harmonious Malaysia,” he added.
Akmal throwing CNY do
Meanwhile, in Umno, its youth chief and Merlimau assemblyperson Dr Akmal Saleh - often seen by many in the Chinese community as holding strong stances - is set to host a Chinese New Year open house on Feb 28.
Akmal said the gathering at SJK(C) Merlimau aims to uphold the customary Lunar New Year celebrations and is open to everyone, regardless of race.
"Everyone is welcome to attend the open house on that day," he told The Star, noting that since being elected as Merlimau’s representative, he is the only non-Chinese assemblyperson in the state to hold such an event for the occasion.
He added that RM40,000 has been allocated for the open house, with RM10,000 set aside for ang pow for teachers and students of Chinese primary schools in Merlimau.
He further contributed RM2,500 to a local Chinese school for lantern purchases and another RM2,500 to Bukit Katung New Village in Rim for the same purpose.
"An allocation of RM3,000 was also channelled to Kampung Kongsai in Merlimau to decorate the village with lanterns," he said.
Previously, Akmal refuted claims that he harbours animosity toward the Chinese community, clarifying that his disagreements with DAP stem from policy differences rather than ethnicity.
“When we are against DAP, we are against its policies. It has nothing to do with the Chinese community, and my mother-in-law is Chinese," he said. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.