NGO holds second multi-faith breaking of fast

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KOTA KINABALU: Society Empowerment and Economic Development of Sabah (SEEDS) is committed to promote deeper religious understanding among Malaysia’s diverse society.

It is due to this reason that it has embarked on a journey to strengthen the spirit of togetherness through a religious event such as the breaking of fast by the Muslims.

The Majlis Bersungkai Bersama SEEDS themed ‘Living Together’ is unique as most of the invitees are of different faiths and of mixed parentage. This is the second time that such an event organised by SEEDS. The first one was held last year and received warm reception from the invitees.

The event seeks to build upon the inherent religious and cultural acceptance that exists between the diverse people of Malaysia. As an NGO that promotes moderation and progressive society, SEEDS is with the opinion that it is only through the unity of Malaysia’s diverse society that the country can progress further.

A multi-religious and multi-cultural country like Malaysia will do well to harness the mutual acceptance that has existed since time immemorial between the various ethnic and religious groupings. This mutual acceptance and understanding is our most potent strength that will see us through trying times and power our society in our quest for progress.

When asked to elaborate on the importance of events such as this, Dr Arnold Puyok (Senior Fellow of SEEDS) said, “despite our challenging political climate at the moment, we want to embrace what matters most: our strength in diversity”.

Dr Pamela Yong, the Project Director of Living Together, said that the multi-faith breaking of fast will help in increasing religious and racial acceptance among Malaysians who yearn to see the country’s peace and stability to remain in many more years to come.

“We should move from tolerance to acceptance as only by accepting our differences would we be able to progress as a nation together,” she said.

“Togetherness reigns supreme despite our differences. This is the spirit that will ensure our country’s prosperity for many more years to come,” she added.

Meanwhile SEEDS chairman Datuk Badil Zaman in his speech at the event which was held on Sunday said that the multi-faith breaking of fast is one of their many programmes to create awareness and increase understanding about the role that each and everyone of us has to play to strengthen the spirit of Malaysia.

“The idea of this multi-faith breaking of fast came after the realisation that we need to understand and accept our racial and religious differences if we want Malaysia to progress further. This programme is not just about breaking fast together in the spirit of Malaysian unity. We go further than that by inviting people of different faiths and of mixed parentage to share with us their experiences growing up in families that accept and celebrate differences in cultures and religions.

“For us in Sabah, intermarriages have contributed a lot in strengthening the relationships among people of different religious faiths. This is our main strength which we all should cherish and protect forever.

“We in SEEDS will continue to pursue the effort of increasing inter-faith understanding and interaction as a strategic component in the nation-building initiative,” he said.