Wesak Day Message by Lim Guan Eng in Petaling Jaya on Saturday, 9^th May 2009: 

Wesak Day Message - Practise religious tolerance positively, return three young children to Indira Ghandi 

To all Buddhists in Malaysia and everywhere else in the world, may I wish you a very blessed Wesak Day.

Buddhism appeals to reason and freedom of thought, recognising the dignity and potentiality of the human mind. It calls for equality, fraternity and understanding, exhorting its followers to avoid evil, to do good and to purify their minds.

In a multi-racial Malaysia, religious tolerance is very important. It must also be practised positively and not become a mere slogan.

In this regards, I would like to urge the government to return Indira Ghandi’s three young children to her immediately. The High Court on April 24 had granted her custody of her three children – one-year-old infant Prasana as well as Karan Dinish, 11 and Tevi Darsiny, 12.

If the government fails to allow this mother to have her own children, it means the Cabinet directive on this matter is just toothless, meaningless and an exercise in futility that serves only empty publicity.

The Cabinet had decided last month that when one of the parents who are divorced and converted to another religion, their child or children must be brought up in the 'common religion at the time of marriage.'

No one should be hysterical or too emotional about this issue. It is important for all of us to have a strong religious understanding amongst all faiths. The government must show its commitment to propagate mutual respect so as to achieve racial and religious harmony.

On this Wesak Day, I would like to reiterate my stand that we should not try to highlight the differences that divide us but search for the common good values that unite us.

* Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General & Penang Chief Minister; Member of Parliament for Bagan