KUCHING: Each celebration of the multi religious community in Sarawak is an occasion to strengthen its culture and to learn from each other so as to maintain the peace and harmony of Sarawak.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said with Sarawak being a multi-cultural, multi-racial and multi-religious society, the peace, harmony and unity in the state must be treasured as it is the foundation of future prosperity.
“Recognising our oneness as humanity and working towards it can lead us to better understand each other and break down any barriers that exist not just between different religious communities, but also beyond social and ethnic barriers,” he said.
He said this in his speech read by Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian at the Baha’I New Year Naw-Ruz Celebration 180 BE at Imperial Hotel, on Sunday night (April 2).
The celebration was jointly organised by the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR), Department of the Premier of Sarawak and the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha’is of Sarawak.
A 50,000-strong Bahá’í community is spread across over 401 localities in the state representing a cross section of the population.
Uggah, who is the Minister in-Charge of Unifor, said in Sarawak, the Bahá’í community celebrate the occasion with open houses and community gatherings both in longhouses/villages and in urban settings.
It is a time to celebrate humankind, a time for meeting and reconciling with friends he said.
“Baha’i New Year Naw Ruz in the Persian language means New Day and was celebrated this year on March 21, which marks the Vernal Equinox, First Day of Spring in the Northern Hemisphere as well as the First Day of the Baha’i Calendar.
“It is celebrated by Baha’is all over the world after fasting 19 days from March 2 to 20. This day is a symbol of renewal, an occasion when all can reflect on their spiritual reality and how they can contribute to the well-being of society,” added Uggah.
