Kit Siang: Set aside differences to enjoy Hari Raya-National Day-Malaysia Day

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang has called on the countrys faithful to put aside their racial and religious differences to give real meaning to being Malaysian, as the country celebrates Hari Raya Aidilfitri, National Day and its founding in succession.

The Ipoh Timur MP said the three events coming so close to each other should be a special triple occasion of joy and celebrations for all Malaysians but was not due to what he called the irresponsible and relentless ramping-up and incitement of race and religious hatred and tensions by certain media in their news reports.

A call must urgently go out to all Muslim and non-Muslim Malaysians to dedicate themselves to promote the values of justice, freedom, love and compassion on the triple occasion of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, 54th National Day and 48th Malaysia Day values which are common to all the great religions which have found a home in the country, Lim (picture) said in his holiday greeting today.

Whether we are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans or Orang Asli, whether Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Taoists or Sikhs, let us unite as one Malaysian people first and last to give real meaning to the triple occasion of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, the 54th National Day and 48th Malaysia Day, he added.

Lims message follows several inter-religious disputes that have plagued the country since Election 2008 with the most recent being allegations that a Christian teacher was trying to convert his Muslim students through free English lessons.

Muslims in the country will mark the end of their month-long fast tomorrow with the Aidilfitri celebration, while August 31 marks Malayas bloodless independence from colonial British rule 54 years ago.

But it was on September 16, 1963 that Malaysia, as the country is now known, was formed when Sabah and Sarawak agreed to join w! ith the peninsula.