KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak urged Malaysians to take a moderate approach in their outlook towards the country's multi-religious setting and make Malaysia a world model for religious tolerance and racial harmony.
"I urged Malaysians to join hands with me to make Malaysia a model of religious tolerance and racial harmony for the rest of the world to see," he said at a Wesak Day celebration and open house at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields, here on Friday.
Najib is the third prime minister to have visited the 115-year-old temple after Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, representatives from other religions, foreign dignitaries, guests as well as thousands of Buddhist devotees.
Najib added that Malaysians should avoid engaging in any kind of extremism which he said could hurt the country and hamper its visions to become a high-income nation.
"We are faced with many challenges today including the eradication of poverty as well as transforming Malaysia into a high-income and developed nation within 10 years.
"And for us to face these challenges, we must recognise the basic principles of democracy, which is, rights must be balanced with responsibility," he added.
Najib said Malaysians must also use their wisdoms to reach out and understand the rights of all citizens in practising their religions in dignity and without harassment.
The Prime Minister said Malaysians should used wisdoms and compassion to help one another regardless of ethnicities and backgrounds.
"We have to accept that in order for all of us to be happy, sometimes we have to sacrifice something for the common good.
"If our nation pursues the virtue of contentment, there is no reason why we cannot achieve greater success as a nation," he added.
"I urged Malaysians to join hands with me to make Malaysia a model of religious tolerance and racial harmony for the rest of the world to see," he said at a Wesak Day celebration and open house at the Buddhist Maha Vihara temple in Brickfields, here on Friday.
Najib is the third prime minister to have visited the 115-year-old temple after Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Present were his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, representatives from other religions, foreign dignitaries, guests as well as thousands of Buddhist devotees.
Najib added that Malaysians should avoid engaging in any kind of extremism which he said could hurt the country and hamper its visions to become a high-income nation.
"We are faced with many challenges today including the eradication of poverty as well as transforming Malaysia into a high-income and developed nation within 10 years.
"And for us to face these challenges, we must recognise the basic principles of democracy, which is, rights must be balanced with responsibility," he added.
Najib said Malaysians must also use their wisdoms to reach out and understand the rights of all citizens in practising their religions in dignity and without harassment.
The Prime Minister said Malaysians should used wisdoms and compassion to help one another regardless of ethnicities and backgrounds.
"We have to accept that in order for all of us to be happy, sometimes we have to sacrifice something for the common good.
"If our nation pursues the virtue of contentment, there is no reason why we cannot achieve greater success as a nation," he added.
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