AS the Hari Raya celebration draws closer and with the spirit of maaf zahir dan batin, civil groups and a media outlet have launched the #MZB365 campaign to foster national reconciliation amid recent racial and religious tensions in the country.
The campaign aims to make seeking and granting forgiveness a continuous practice throughout the year, transcending religious and ethnic boundaries.
“As humans, we inevitably make mistakes daily. By seeking forgiveness and extending grace, we not only mend relationships but also strengthen the fabric of our society.”
“The harms that we have caused to others, whether intentional or accidental, regardless of their scale, will remain and possibly destroy the harmonious ties between one another if we do not seek forgiveness with each other.
“The practice of ‘kemaafan’ (forgiveness) is not only a teaching in Islam but also in the value systems of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, Taoism, and the natives of Sabah, Sarawak, and the peninsula,” said the groups in a statement.
Recently, the “Allah” socks issue and the “kafir” conundrum have been the highlights of many news publications.
It became a furious online debate for many quarters, but it was Umno Youth chief Dr Mohd Akmal Saleh who took the matter to another level by uploading a sword-wielding picture on Facebook.
The group warned against following populist rhetoric fueled by hatred and conspiracy theories, which have destabilised nations and societies.
Reminding the public of how successful the #KitaJagaKita campaign was, the group urged the masses to emulate the solidarity witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“To promote the seeking and giving of forgiveness is more important than ever because there are individuals and groups who are seeking opportunities and pretexts to divide our society for their political, business and personal interests.
“They find faults that can be amplified to sow distrust and hatred so that they can emerge as their community heroes, to the point that some even break the law through arson and violence."
“Where laws have been violated, the rule of law must be upheld without compromise. When minds have been deceived by propaganda and lies, truth and logical thinking must be upheld. Meanwhile, there is no better antidote than grace, which may strengthen ties, reduce hatred, build trust, and defeat those who want to exploit circumstances.”
“Let’s make #MZB365 a success to counter ethno-religious hatred. Let us fight hatred with grace each day,” the statement read.
The joint statement was endorsed by 18 civil groups, including Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, G25, Ikram Malaysia, and the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, along with 19 media outlets, including Big Boom Media, which publishes Scoop.my, as well as RTM, The Star, Malaysiakini, Malay Mail, Astro Awani, FMT, Bernama, Utusan Malaysia and NSTP among others.
The campaign welcomes participation from all and those interested can sign up through a provided Google Form, with Projek Sama overseeing operational coordination. – April 7, 2024.
