KUCHING: Sarawakians are urged to renew their desire to build a united society by treating each other with the greatest respect regardless of race and religion.
“Nobody has been able to claim with 100 percent certainty that there is only one way for the people to follow in their lives, that (such way) is the standard which dictates the society,” said Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.
He noted that society was a place where differences emerged and because of that, people must look for the best ways to live and manifest their culture and history.
“Therefore, let us keep our unity together, let us learn to respect what others believe while doing good for society,” he said when gracing the Yayasan Perpaduan Sarawak (YPS)’s Malaysia Book of Records Award ceremony here today.
The Head of State who is YPS board of trustee chairman added that despite having a multiracial society, Malaysia in general and Sarawak in particular, had done well in ensuring peace and harmony among its people.
“In spite of differences in beliefs, we are able to find out a way to live with each other, appreciating each other’s good points and not driven to such behaviour which can make our lives less comfortable.
“The minimum standard that we have been able to accept is that we must not do bad to anybody whatever their beliefs may be. That is the minimum standard which keeps us together all these years and will guide us to improve ourselves no matter what changes the world brings,” he said.
He pointed out that Malaysia had proven that it could handle such situation and survived quiet well.
“Let us renew our desire to build a better society and to give room to everybody to do good and to avoid the bad whenever we see it or try to change it into a better standard of living for our future generation.
“I hope we can all maintain certain amount of time to think about what we can do to our society and see the unfolding of teachings of all religions getting proper attention rather than being destroyed by the extremism of a few,” he added.
