HER MAJESTY RAJA ZARITH SOFIAH SHARES REFLECTIONS ON MALAYSIA'S RACIAL HARMONY, UNITY

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, shared her reflections on Malaysia’s unique racial harmony and unity in her latest blog post published today.

In the article titled “What Makes Malaysia Different? And Why We Should Be Proud of Malaysia’s Festival TV Commercials”, Raja Zarith Sofiah highlighted the spirit of coexistence among Malaysians of different races and religions, a harmony Her Majesty personally observed during her visit to two People’s Housing Projects (PPR) in the capital.

“In the streets surrounding these two housing estates, there are houses decorated with Chinese lanterns, while the houses next to them are completely undecorated.

“But we are so used to the different symbols of celebration that we do not consider it a strange phenomenon,” she wrote.

Her Majesty said that while greeting residents and families during the visit, some wished her “Xin Nian Kuai Le” (Happy New Year), while others greeted her with “Assalamualaikum”.

“We are sometimes too busy looking at other countries and their achievements that we forget the uniqueness of our homeland...that we have genuine harmony and unity here.

“We may not have the largest armies or cities filled with skyscrapers (apart from Kuala Lumpur), but we have the sweetest smiles and hearts full of tolerance and respect for one another, regardless of faith or ethnicity,” said the Queen.

Raja Zarith Sofiah also extended Ramadan greetings to Muslims and wished Malaysians a joyful Chinese New Year celebration with their families and friends.

Her Majesty also shared her views on Malaysia’s festive television advertisements, which feature major celebrations such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali, and are eagerly anticipated by viewers each year.

“When holidaying in Western countries at the end of the year, the only festive advertisements on television are for Christmas. Even in some other multi-ethnic countries, no specific advertisements highlight the festivals of different communities,” she noted.

Raja Zarith Sofiah also shared observations from YouTube videos of tourists and expatriates who visited Kuala Lumpur at the end of last year. Many visitors from the United States, the United Kingdom and other European countries appeared pleasantly surprised to see shopping malls filled with Christmas decorations.

“One or two first-time visitors said they had been advised to be cautious because Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country.

“Yet their footage showed local shoppers, some wearing headscarves, shopping and chatting comfortably amid twinkling Christmas lights, gingerbread houses and red-and-green gift boxes,” said Her Majesty.

According to Raja Zarith Sofiah, such reactions serve as a reminder that Malaysians have long embraced ethnic and religious diversity, to the extent that festive decorations and carols across different celebrations are seen not as differences, but as part of the nation’s shared cultural fabric.

-- BERNAMA