Unite across all faiths, end polarisation and hate — Minister
KUCHING: The Sarawak Women and Family Council ( SWFC) is calling upon all opinion leaders across the globe, including politicians, community leaders and those heading civil societies, to not incite hatred by demonising Islam or any other faith, but instead, to unhesitatingly condemn extremism in all its forms.
In light of the New Zealand mosque attacks, which left 50 dead and dozens injured last Friday, SWFC chairperson Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said no race or religion should be subjected to fear and bigotry anywhere, and that no school, home, or workplace should breed such harmful attitudes.
“Outraged as we are by the terrible massacre in Christchurch, our reactions need to be ones that break the polarisation and hate, which are trying to divide communities.
“This is the time for us all to unite across faiths and work to stop violence and replace it with understanding and respect. Let us never allow hatred and anger against Muslims or other faiths take root in our hearts, and let us teach our children the same,” she told a press conference after officiating at the state-level World Interfaith Harmony Week at the Islamic Information Centre ( IIC) here yesterday.
SWFC, she stressed, condemns the senseless, cold-blooded act of terror and stands in solidarity with the people of all faiths in New Zealand, particularly those in Christchurch.
“We express our heart felt condolences to those grieving for lost loved ones and pray for the souls of the dead and for the speedy recovery of those injured. We also pray for all who have been traumatised by this horrendous act and hope that they find the strength and support they need to face this tragedy and work through the psychological pain it has caused.”
Fatimah also commended the New Zealand government’s determination to maintain the unity, diversity and peace for which the country is known for.
“We know New Zealanders will do all in their power to bring all the perpetrators of this massacre to justice. They have experienced a heinous crime of unimaginable proportion in two mosques, violating the sanctity of these places of worship.
“Such targeting of mosques seems to be the work of a few extreme individuals, but it is apparent Islamophobia is driving such actions and (this) needs to be roundly addressed, as does extreme nationalism which vilifies migrants, and any ideology spreading hate of our fellow human beings,” she remarked.
Fatimah expressed that while Sarawak has a proud history of its diverse communities of multiple ethnicities and faiths living together in peace and harmony, Sarawakians must not take this for granted.
“We must actively encourage interfaith activities to increase understanding and bonds of friendship. We strongly support programmes by IIC and other agencies in giving a correct world view of Islam.
“We applaud agencies like the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) Sarawak, Unit for Other Religions ( Unifor) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak, for their continued efforts to build bridges across communities and faiths.”
With Kuchi ng current ly observing the Sarawak Interfaith Harmony Week, Fatimah noted that this should serve as an opportunity for the people to renew their bonds of friendship, acceptance and respect of and for each other’s differences, for therein lies the strength that has bound everyone together as people.
“This is the message we want to pass on down the generations as this is the road to a peaceful, harmonious world.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to contribute through words, actions, activities, and programmes be it at home, schools or wider community, so that peace, harmony, unity and solidarity will prevail not only in our ‘Fairland Sarawak’, but throughout the world,” she emphasised.
Also present at the press conference were Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus who is also SWFC deputy chairperson, Unifor director Datu Dr Ngenang Janggu and IIC chief executive officer Zabariah Matali.
KUCHING: Sarawakians are fortunate that the state has immigration autonomy which has shielded the people from undesirable elements from outside.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this in regards particularly to elements professing racial and religious bigotry.
“Our immigration power is our right as enshrined in the Federal Constitution which no one can take away from us.
“I not only say it here because I have pointed this out to the Steering Committee on Malaysia Agreement 1963 ( MA63) chaired by the Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that our immigration autonomy is
Our immigration power is our right as enshrined in the Federal Constitution which no one can take away from us.
a right that is not open to any negotiation,” he said.
His text- of-speech was read by Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah at the opening of the Interfaith Harmony Forum, held in conjunction with the statelevel World Interfaith Harmony Week at Islamic Information Centre ( IIC) here yesterday.
Abang Johari pointed out that the people in Sarawak are also fortunate to inherit a statehood that is naturally diverse in cultural heritage and religious practices.
“Since the early years, Sarawak has been a meeting point for civilisation from both the East and West, not to mention that from the Malay Archipelago itself. For hundreds or maybe thousands of years, we have always regarded traders, merchants and people from China, India and the western world as our friends and partners.
“I believe that this sort of interaction has somehow moulded Sarawakians to become people who are peace loving and are able to accept others in their midst.”
The chief minister stressed that the people must continue to build bridges amongst themselves as Sarawak needs her people to be united and to be developed economically.
“We must not fall into the trap of dwelling on our differences, but rather we must celebrate our diversity and draw strength from our various racial and religious backgrounds.
“After all, a monochrome or mono colour is monotonous, but a kaleidoscope of colours is always pleasing to the eye,” he said in imparting some words of wisdom.
On that note, he assured that the Sarawak government will continue to look for ways to bring in more revenue to give back to the people – in the form of infrastructure and facilities development such as building of good, comfortable churches and temples.
“Although we now have a bit of extra revenue from the imposition of five per cent sales tax on petroleum and gas products for export, we cannot afford to waste our resources at the expense of the rakyat, especially our rural people who are very much in need of good roads, electricity and water supplies.
“We have been spending prudently all these years and that’s why we have a strong reserve. We are not spending this reserve to develop our infrastructure and it is there to stay as part of our strong economic fundamentals.”
On the forum, which was jointly organised by the Unit for Other Religions ( Unifor), Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) Sarawak and IIC, Abang Johari hoped that more similar programmes can be organised in the future to further strengthen the prosperity and unity among the communities in Sarawak and the country as a whole.
Themed ‘Love of God, Love of Neighbour’, the forum aimed to serve as a platform to strengthen interfaith understanding among the multi-racial communities in the state and strengthen harmony among religious bodies through programmes and activities that impart respect, tolerance and acceptance of other religions.
Also present at the press conference were Assistant Minister of Women, Family and Childhood Development Rosey Yunus, Assistant Minister of Industries and Investment Malcolm Mussen, Unifor director Datu Dr Ngenang Janggu and IIC chief executive officer Zabariah Matali.
Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister