SIBU: Members of the Darul Firdaus Mosque Committee (AJK) at Jalan Apollo here took the initiative to reach out to the Chinese community around the Apollo housing estate in conjunction with the coming Chinese New Year celebration.
The neighbourhood visit programme was held immediately after the ‘gotong-royong’ at the mosque on Sunday (Feb 15), with the committee members going out to distribute mandarin oranges as a sign of respect, concern and the spirit of unity between the races.
Its chairman, Junaidi Mohamad Mohktar, said that although the contribution was small in value, it carried a big message of love and brotherhood among neighbours regardless of religious and racial background.
“More than 90 per cent of the residents around the Jalan Apollo housing estate are Chinese. Therefore, it is our responsibility to build bridges of friendship, not dividing walls.
“A mosque is not just a place of worship, but also a symbol of grace and unity for the entire community,” he said.
According to him, the effort is in line with the mosque committee’s desire to continue strengthening inter-racial relations through an inclusive and community-friendly approach.
Adding that, harmony cannot be built just through words but rather requires consistent small steps and continuous commitment from all parties.
Since 2020, he explained, the committee also has a desire to develop a mosque with a touch of Chinese architecture in the future as a symbol of openness and the beauty of Islam in celebrating cultural diversity.
“This initiative is the beginning of closer relationships, mutual understanding and mutual respect between local residents. We are all neighbours and members of the community who dream of a peaceful and united Sarawak,” he said.
The programme also received positive feedback from local residents who described the approach as a proactive step in strengthening the harmony of the diverse community in the area.
