Don't Destroy Unity Just To Please A Few - Agong

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 7 (Bernama) -- Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin called on Malaysians not to destroy the prevailing unity in the country just to fulfil the demands of a few extreme and greedy, selfish individuals.

"The nation's development plans will be hampered if the prevailing unity and harmony is not protected," the King said in conjunction with the national-level Ma'al Hijrah 1432 celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre, here, Sunday.

Tuanku Mizan said the country would be exposed to regression and destruction if the people were always suspicious of and fighting with each other.

"The people are jointly responsible for ensuring continued peace and prosperity in the country to be inherited by future generations."

The King said to achieve the desired level of unity was not easy, hence all parties must play their role and prove their sincerity in achieving that goal.

Tuanku Mizan said all the different races must understand and respect each other and have a give-and-take attitude for the sake of peace and harmony.

"As for the Muslims, they should help build the ummah and beloved country based on faith and solidarity. And learn from the Hijrah incident with realisation and resignation."

On the Hijrah incident (flight of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina), the King said it brought positive change and transformation to the attitudes and way of life of the Muslims, as well as showed the need for sacrifice and diligence to achieve success in this world and the hereafter.

"Muslims need to emulate the Muhajirin and Ansar who were willing to sacrifice their own interests for Islam.

"All these lessons will be lost in the annals of history if we continue to be lax and are only proud of the glory achieved by the ummah of yore while we ourselves have not changed to achieve success."

The King hoped Malaysians would continue to work at maintaining racial unity and for Muslims to imbibe this year's Ma'al Hijrah theme, "1Malaysia, 1Ummah".

Tuanku Mizan also suggested that all quarters, especially government agencies and the private sector, enhance programmes that promoted religious values to produce human capital with a high level of integrity.