In Malaysia, Hari Raya Aidilfitri is not just an important time for
Muslims to unite as a family in the exchange of love, blessings and
forgiveness, it is also a festival where other races join in the
celebrations in the great Malaysian spirit of muhhibbah
2002 Hari Raya Aidilfitri Message
by Kerk Kim Hock
(Petaling Jaya, Thursday):
In Malaysia, Hari Raya
Aidilfitri is not just an important time for Muslims to unite as a family in
the exchange of love, blessings and forgiveness, it is also a festival where
other races join in the celebrations in the great Malaysian spirit of
muhhibbah.
Indeed, in a multi racial, multi cultural and multi religious society like
Malaysia, social, racial and religious harmony is of fundamental importance.
Thus, peace, muhhibah, harmony are fundamentals in a multi racial society,
which must not be taken for granted, and which must in fact prevail
throughout the year.
While mutual tolerance, understanding, accommodation must therefore always
prevail to ensure the existence of peace, harmony and muhhibabh, there is
also the need to seek, build , strengthen consensus and unity on issues
faced by the nation in general and by the races in particular.
Hence, it is heartening to note the unity of all Malaysians in rejecting the
Australian Prime Minister John Howard's arrogant " preemptive strike"
remarks.
However, the BN government must also be prepared to forge greater national
consensus and unity on the issue of local and international terrorism threat
by accepting the DAP's proposal to convene a national conference of all
political parties and NGOs.
It is also fortunate that the government's proposal to teach Mathematics and
Science subjects in English, which at one time threatened to be an issue of
racial confrontation due to uncalled for and irresponsible remarks by some
people calling for financial assistance to national type schools to be
stopped, or that these schools be closed down, has not become a synthetic
issue of racial confrontation which could threaten the Hari Raya festival
mood.
Nevertheless, the government must acknowledge the legitimate worries,
concerns and objections on the formula already adopted and must be prepared
to hold a national conference of all political parties, educationist
organisations and academicians with the objective to find the least divisive
way to implement an objective which all have supported --- to raise the
level of English proficiency of our students.
There is no dispute as to whether we should improve the level of English
proficiency of our students, the issue is how to achieve such an objective.
Moderation must be one of the important and fundamental guiding principles
of a government in a multi racial country.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidifitri to all Malaysian Muslims.
(5/12/2002)
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Kerk Kim Hock, DAP Secretary General & MP for Kota Melaka
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