I welcome the “warmest greeting” of the Association of Churches in Sarawak to the Buddhist Community on Wesak Day 2024.

In his message, the Chairman of the Association, the Rt. Rev Datuk Danald Jute said:

“In a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-ethnic nation such as Malaysia, it is essential that we respect and celebrate our similarities as well as our differences. Let us affirm the good in each other. In this way, we can all help to build a more peaceful , respectful and prosperous nation. Have a happy Wesak Day.”

This greeting is fully in accordance with Article 3 of the Malaysian Constitution which states that “Islam is the religion of the Federation but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation” and also the Rukun Negara commitment to “guarantee a liberal approach towards our traditional heritage that is rich and diverse” and two of the five Rukun Negaras principles of “Belief in God” and “Courtesy and Morality”.

In fact, the return to the core principles of Malaysian nation-building as spelt out in the Malaysian Constitution and the Rukun Negara would be the most effective way to combat the twin evils of racial and religious extremism which had troubled the nation in the last few years.

Would leaders of all political parties endorse these core nation-building principles in the Malaysian Constitution and the Rukun Negara?

If yes, then Malaysia can make a distinctive contribution to global inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue, understanding and harmony.

But I know of a political party leader who had never supported the five Rukun Negara principles.

(Media Statement by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang in Penang on Wednesday, 22nd May 2024)