Kurup (left) shaking hands with heads of religious bodies yesterday.
KOTA KINABALU: Respect and understanding are the two key elements that unite people of different backgrounds to live a more harmonious life together.
“No religion teaches one to think they are different from others. Religion is pure. Our religion teaches us to respect and understand one another – an act of tolerance,” said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup.
He said it does not hurt for one to respect another person’s religion, stressing that: “Respect is earned. Understanding one another and respecting one’s religion is good, not fighting to show who is better than the other.”
Kurup was saying this after leading a crowd of people in the Harmony Traveloque and Walk programme, covering an 800-metre trail beginning from the Mary Immaculate Church to the Sri Pasupathinath Alayam Temple and ending at he Nurul Hikmah Mosque, in conjunction with the World Interfaith Harmony Week, yesterday.
“In Malaysia, we come from different backgrounds, religions and cultures, and there are bound to be some misunderstanding. But during the walk, moving from one house of worship to another, I learned that we all want the same thing, and that is to have continuous peace and harmony.
“It was not just a walk, it was about appreciating what we have, our own beliefs and also others,” he said, adding that the unity amongst Sabahans should be made as a role model to Malaysians as it reflects the true meaning of the 1Malaysia Concept.
The World Interfaith Harmony Week is an annual event to be observed during the first week of February starting in 2011. It was first proposed at the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 23, 2010 by H. M. King Abdullah II of Jordan.
On Oct 20, 2010, it was unanimously adopted by the UN and henceforth the first week of February will be observed as a World Interfaith Harmony Week as a way to promote harmony between all people regardless of their faith.
Among those present were Minister of Community Development and Consumer Affairs Datuk Jainab Ayid, National Unity and Integration Department director Delin Liet Blaun, and heads of religious bodies.