THE peace Malaysia enjoys is the collective effort of all religious groups, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said.
Chow said every family, school, and the community must promote peace to resolve conflicts and build a harmonious society.
"We have achieved it; now we must sustain it at all costs," Chow said yesterday on Wesak Day.
Chow said Penang has always supported religious freedom but that must come with mutual respect and tolerance.
He said religious groups must also cooperate with one another and resist all forms of extremism.
“Although we, Malaysians, live among different races and religions, we tolerate and respect each other. As a result, this makes other countries envious of us,” he said.
In recent years, incidents of religious extremism have disrupted social peace and harmony, he said.
“This has become a concern not only on a state level but also on the national front. We need to address this,” he said.
Wesak Day Ffloat procession organising chairman Datuk Loh Hock Hun said this year was the 2,568th death anniversary of Lord Buddha.
“We celebrate this propitious occasion to strengthen the faith of all devotees and to propagate the preaching of Lord Buddha which is aimed at guiding humans to perform honourable deeds, to seek the truth, and to be selfless while serving mankind." – May 23, 2024.
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