How religious institutions can unite the multi racial youth in Malaysia

Who would have expected that a simple meal of bubur lambuk porridge for the breaking of fast would sow the grains that would bloom further exchanges between the masjid and gereja, kuil-kuil and gurdwara? In the New Malaysia, efforts at interreligious encounters should not cease at just celebratory festivities. Continuous interactions should be enhanced.

On Oct 13, at Masjid Jamek Sultan Abdul Aziz, a dialogue themed Roles of Religious Institutions in Uniting Multi-Racial Youth in Malaysia was held with representatives from Assumption Church, Petaling Jaya, Chinese Methodist Church, St Paul’s Anglican Church, Gurdwara Sahib Petaling Jaya, Sri Sithi Vinayagar, and the International Forum on Buddhist-Muslim Relations.

The message, as encapsulated in remarks by Datuk Prof. Dr Azizan binti Baharuddin, Director General of Institut Kefahamam Islam Malaysia (IKIM), was for people to get to know each other, to humanise religion, to stay strong above intolerance and apprehension.

Key to establishing interfaith harmony are not issues that are religious in nature or harping on the superiority of one race/religion above another, but finding solutions to secular issues. Dr Azizan urged youths and adults alike to address universal issues like the environment, climate change, corruption and others which do not discriminate based on faith but affect everyone.

She also expressed that the dialogue should be a forerunner for combined activities in villages to comprehend the hardships of impoverished rural communities. Therefore, the day’s dialogue should not be a one-off event but the roots for healing for a better Malaysia.

In outlining how youths in Assumption had organised Fathers’/Mothers’/Grandparents’Day events, Fr Gregory Chan not only revealed the handing of leadership roles to youths, but also indicated the involvement of teenagers and young adults would be the next booster for people coming together for interreligious activities. He also voiced that Assumption aims to hold more functions to celebrate each other.

Bryston Chai spoke about the common interests of Malaysian youths that can unite, namely makan and sports.

Fr Chan then continued about how youths can improve the community and uplift the lives of others e.g. “in line with Laudato Si on caring for the environment ie organising gotong royong as PJ is getting dirtier.” He also informed that simple gestures like reaching out to the aging, regardless of race or religion, just to hold their hands means plenty. Additionally, on migrants, he reflected on how we should regard the Filipina, Indonesian or Myanmar migrant worker as our neighbours as they too have needs.

The other Christian denominations and religions shared about the outreach activities of their respective bodies, the challenges faced and the learning process in dealing with religious sensitivities, besides their intentions for more interfaith activities.

While the dialogue’s theme was intended for the roles of youth, the Hindu representative Ashok Kandiah drew a pertinent point that “it is not so much the role of youth but of adults in how to shape young minds.” Likewise earlier, Fr Chan urged that “veterans must give encouragement to youth. Parents have important roles to cultivate in youths to be considerate.” Indeed, children know no prejudices. Irrespective of the Scripture any adherent holds, what adults do, how adults react and teach, will impart indelible lessons to young, impressionable minds.

Fr Gregory,said that it is noteworthy that Ashok, a lawyer, as well as Vidyananda KV Soon representing the Buddhist body, all attributed their enjoyable childhood with multiracial friends at La Salle school PJ or neighbours where race and religion never factored in playing or sharing meals with one another. Such memories evoke the La Sallean spirit and ethos that have long been a driving force for national unity even before “1Malaysia” or “New Malaysia” were ever conceived.

Article reproduced from Herald Malaysia online