KUCHING: As Malaysia Day approaches, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Malaysia president Datuk Dr Simon Poh has called on Malaysians to embrace mutual respect and acceptance.
He said that Malaysians, despite coming from different backgrounds, should welcome one another as brothers and sisters of one human family.
“Let us be bridge-builders, engaging in respectful dialogue and working for the common good of all,” he said in his Malaysia Day message published on Today’s Catholic website recently.
The Catholic Archbishop of Kuching also urged Malaysians to translate this year’s theme ‘Malaysia MADANI: Rakyat Disantuni’ into concrete actions rather than mere slogans.
Poh appealed to Malaysians to reject all forms of prejudice, mistrust and violence that could divide society.
“Let us stand together to denounce all forms of violence – bullying in our schools, child abuse, harassment in the workplace, domestic violence in families, cyber-bullying, extremism and fundamentalism in society,” he stressed.
As part of nation building, he said every Malaysian must continue to foster understanding and strengthen bonds across Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia.
Reflecting on the formation of Malaysia, he said Malaysia Day commemorates the historic union of four sovereign independent nations – Federation of Malaya, Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore on Sept 16, 1963, however Singapore left in 1965.
“Malaysia Day celebrates the coming together of diverse entities of Sabah, Sarawak and Semenanjung as a unified nation – with the aim of fostering an inclusive national identity as Malaysians.
“This rightfully celebrates the rich diversity and unity of Malaysia’s various races, religions, cultures, faiths and communities, throughout our ‘tanah air’, including the unique sounds and cultures of Borneo,” he said.
He added that religious leaders too have a role in nation-building and urged Malaysians to uphold the nation’s leaders in prayer.
“Let us pray for our King, for our civil, political and religious leaders, that they may lead with wisdom, justice and integrity, guided by the principles of the Rukun Negara.
“We also pray that the fundamental liberties and rights of the rakyat will be safeguarded by our Federal Constitution,” he said.
The Archbishop ended his message by calling on Malaysians to cherish the nation’s diversity and harmony in daily life.
“On this Malaysia Day, let us commit ourselves to live in harmony as we celebrate our unity in diversity and strive for a future where everyone is respected, protected and cared for.
“True harmony begins with building friendship in our neighbourhoods, classrooms and workplaces,” he said.
“May God bless our beloved country, Malaysia, with peace, progress and harmony. Selamat Hari Malaysia!”
