MALAYSIA'S DIVERSITY A STRENGTH, NOT DIVISION - LOKE

KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 (Bernama) -- Malaysia’s diversity is a source of strength and not division, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke in conjunction with Wesak Day, calling for unity through empathy, compassion, and mutual respect.

Speaking at a Wesak Day celebration at the iconic Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields here today, Loke underscored the importance of embracing the nation’s multicultural identity, saying that shared values such as compassion, wisdom and mindfulness transcended religious boundaries.

“Our differences need not divide us. Instead, they enrich our society, shaping a national character that is compassionate, inclusive, and resilient.

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“The values that Wesak represents – compassion, wisdom, mindfulness, and selflessness – are not only Buddhist virtues. They are universal human values that resonate across all faiths and philosophies,” he said.

He added that Malaysia’s peaceful coexistence among various faiths and ethnicities was a testament to the nation’s maturity and the legacy of its forefathers.

“In a world often marked by conflict and polarisation, Malaysia stands as an example of how people of different ethnicities and religions can live, work, and celebrate side by side,” he said.

Following the ceremony, Loke joined more than 5,000 Buddhist devotees in a colourful float procession held in conjunction with the celebration.

The procession, featuring around 30 decorated floats, covered a 12-kilometre route before returning to the Maha Vihara Temple.

Wesak Day is of central importance to Buddhists, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism.

The festival is marked by the lighting of incense sticks and lotus-shaped candles, the offering of flowers, and the symbolic bathing of the Buddha statue.

--BERNAMA