Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim has called on the people to work together for the betterment of the nation.
He said Malaysia has seen an eroding spirit of togetherness in recent years, with more prominent narrow-mindedness and "a shrinking of space" for people and groups to be who they are.
"There seem to be quarters that want to dictate to others how they should practise their religion.
"There is much more suspicion and distrust among ourselves of different faiths today compared to 40 years ago.
"How did we reach this point of our journey as Malaysia after 60 years of nationhood and 66 years of independence?" he asked during his speech at the annual Christian Federation of Malaysia’s high tea reception in Selangor today.
Leow opined that many of the fears were unfounded and could be easily solved through dialogue to increase understanding of each other's points of view.
"We must listen to the other and address their fears and concerns. If we cannot reach a consensus, there may be compromises and assurances to be given.
"We must always be able to agree to disagree and work for the betterment of the whole," he said.
Multicultural tapestry
Leow added that places of worship such as mosques and churches should not stand as symbols of division but as monuments to freedom of religion and mutual respect.
"One of the most remarkable aspects of Malaysia is our ability to maintain our cultural and religious identities while living together in peace and harmony. There is so much more we can do beyond scratching at its surface.
"As we move forward as a nation, let us hold fast to the values that define us - a commitment to unity amidst diversity, a dedication to mutual respect and an unwavering belief in the strength of our multicultural tapestry," he said.
The guest of honour at today’s event was Transport Minister Anthony Loke, representing Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh was also present.
Anwar was unable to attend as it clashed with his working visit to Japan for the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit.
Typically, government leaders and leaders of opposition parties would make up the long list of VIPs at the reception.
Other notable attendees were Abim president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin, Bersih chairperson Muhammad Faisal Abdul Aziz, Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, as well as several diplomats.
Learning to ‘coexist’
In his speech, Loke attributed the growing divisiveness and fear among the people as the reason behind the formation of the coalition government.
"It's precisely because of the fear that politics may further polarise the country, that we have put aside our past rivalry to start a new chapter for Malaysia," he said.
However, Loke also acknowledged that the many component parties in the government were still learning to work with each other and coexist, calling it a "work in progress".
"What's most important is that we have a vision at heart.
"If we can put aside our differences and celebrate our diversity, the potential of Malaysia can be further strengthened and may go further as a (diverse) country in the world," he added. - Mkini
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