Welcome to all those who have ‘balik kampung’ from all over the world to celebrate this very special day together with their families especially those from this rather unique Sarawak.
I think that on returning home, one of the first things they will notice, but just accepted when growing up here, is the level of acceptance and mutual respect in our society not always found everywhere.
Sarawak has developed its uniqueness over the centuries from its relative isolation, never having been on a major trade route like Singapore and never having been the centre of an empire like Srivijaya in the 8th to 12th centuries.
Over the centuries, but not without the occasional short term interruption, we in Sarawak have developed an unquestioning level of acceptance. Our very varied peoples, our widely varied life styles, our many religions, and our various mother tongues.
Not only honouring but indeed active recognition and participation in our many religious festivities is part of our uniqueness. Open houses are an important feature in the Hari Raya celebrations, enabling friends and colleagues from other faiths to celebrate Hari Raya.
While celebrating this Hari Raya after a month of disciplined fasting, prayers and reflection we have been much affected by the extreme climate change.
The extraordinary climate change has brought the records-breaking torrential rains, floods ,landslides /mudslides and droughts, uncontrollable wild fires, oven-like-heatwaves and freezing winter. Thousands of people have perished.
The worst is yet to come.
Earth Day is a day to remind us of the fragile environment we have.
We must live in harmony with nature and it is the only way to assure our own survival.
We must go green and go for renewal energy. Solar and wind, totally phase out coal and any thing that will pollute the world. We must move on to save the planet earth.
As part of the Hari Raya celebrations, I would ask that all of us toast our uniqueness and pledge to uphold it into the future.
We thank our Muslim brothers and sisters for their contributions in all fields of human endeavour.
Selamat Hari Raya.
Ang Lai Soon
