|
The report in The Sun ('Abdul Kalam's trail of lessons', Thursday, September 4, 2008), is indeed a monumental and timely lesson for all of us Malaysians.
Malaysia, which our leaders ceaselessly proclaim is unique and multiracial and multireligious, deserves more than mere rhetoric. And the former President of India Abdul Kalam has come all the way to this tiny nation to remind us, especially our leaders, about humanity and worship. The world renowned scientist in his pain staking visits to all the different places of worship in Penang has loudly driven home the message of going beyond the realm of religious tolerance. Our leaders must re-visit what the 77-year old Muslim President emulated during his trip down Penang's 'Street of Harmony'. His humble acts of respect and reverence within the holy temples, mosques, and church clearly echoes the glaring shortcomings within our own citizenry and leaders who have been instead making clarion calls along divisive religious and racial lines. The ability of this wise Muslim to even pray in the 'tongues' of each different religion and in their respective places of worship send a loud message of how we Malaysians can bring our individual faiths and communities to rise as a beacon of hope for a world much divided along the barriers of religion and color. In line with that singular dream that Dr Abdul Kalam expressed, Jalan Masjid Kapitan Kling must be not only protected but even more duplicated throughout the nation's spread of its various places of worship and in the hearts of its people. And our leaders must quickly learn and emulate what Abdul Kalam has come from so far to remind us of our God-given gift of 'unity' and 'harmony'. And as rightly pointed out by Himanshu Bhatt the Penang Bureau Chief at The Sun, this Street of Harmony in Penang is just the perfect school for our leaders to start with. J. D. Lovrenciear Semenyih
 |
The Blogs 
