PENANG plans to showcase the state's high tolerance of multi-religious and multi-cultural facets by establishing more "streets of harmony" to showcase unity and peace.
Today, the state launched its fourth street of harmony, which stands for having diverse religious places of worship within a 2km radius in strategic townships.
The fourth one at Bayan Baru, is located at the stretch from the Ban Ka Lan Snake Temple to the Surau Al-Ubudiah in Bukit Gedung, behind the Jalan Tengah flats.
In the middle is the Sri Visvanather Sri Visalatchi Kuil, Charismatic Church, Gurdwara Sahib Bayan Baru, and Than Hsiang Buddhist Temple.
The other three streets of harmony are located at George Town, Bukit Mertajam and Seberang Jaya respectively, showcasing that the people here can pray at places of worship located next to each other.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow acknowledged that Penang is a multicultural, thriving and harmonious state.
"It has forged unity among the various races in the state through its 'Harmony Street' walk that symbolises a land of religious harmony and it must not be lost on the young."
Chow expects Butterworth to be next on the list of streets of harmony which also promotes tourism, as visitors are enlightened to see the diversity of religions despite the polarised age the world seems to be living in.
Chow said that such streets play a pivotal role in uniting everyone regardless of race and religion, to live harmoniously under one roof.
The streets of harmony come under the purview of the state agency - Harmonico, which coordinates many activities and programmes to promote national unity and tolerance.
Among those present were state executive councillor Lim Siew Khim, Penang Island City Council councillor Cikgu Chan Soon Aun, and Harmonico general manager Paul Au. - September 28, 2024.
