Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon has urged the people to enhance racial unity to ensure existing harmony in the country.

Koh who is also the Gerakan president said it is important that all races in Malaysia respect each other and unite to avoid any untoward incidents from happening.

“Malaysia adopts a system of democracy and freedom of religion. We have to respect one another to maintain harmony,” he told reporters during the presentation of a cheque of RM1 million for renovation of the Kek Lok Si temple here on Jan 22, Friday.

Referring to the arson incidents which damaged two mosques in Muar, Johor, Thursday, Koh regretted the incidents and said such an incident should not happen because it did not reflect the culture of the Malaysian people who were known for their respect and tolerance for other races and religions.

“I’m disappointed and I feel that majority of Malaysians are also disappointed with it,” he said.

He added that such attacks are completely indefensible, unacceptable and is clearly against the peaceful spirit of Malaysians as a whole.

On the allocation for the temple renovation, Koh said the temple is a thriving symbol of Buddhism and also a manifestation of the freedom of religion as stated in the Federal Constitution as well as a tourism attraction.

Kek Lok Si was built in 1890 and it is the biggest Buddhist temple in South East Asia who had recently celebrated 118th anniversary as well as the 20th memorial ceremony for the temple’s fourth chief abbot, Venerable Bai Sheng.

Among the attractions in the temple is the bronze statue of Goddess Mercy (Kuan Yin) with its newly completed RM40 million 20-storey octagonal pavilion built to cover the statue, the seven-storey pagoda with 10,000 images of Buddha and its beautiful landscape.

by Editorial Desk
gerakan4u.com