Consultative Council on Religious Harmony

I think we need to support the suggestion put forward by YAYASAN 1Malaysia to form a Consultative Council on Religious Harmony (NST, 13.01.10). It is an excellent suggestion put forward at a time when we are revisiting the issue of racial harmony. This council should have representatives from various religious communities and other relevant parties to deliberate on important issues.  

It is our strong conviction that this consultative council will provide a platform to leaders of various faiths to deliberate on critical religious issues in the country and suggest remedies. It is also our strong belief that through communication and interaction will emerge the solutions that will accommodate the interests and aspirations of the diverse communities that constitute our nation.

We would like to reiterate here that a particular religion and its details should be left to scholars of that religion and its followers to deliberate on and decide on matters related to the faith. However, there has be a platform for representatives from various religious communities to deliberate on and seek remedies for problems and issues which sometimes arise out of interactions of people of different faiths.

In a multiracial and a multi-religious country, such as Malaysia, where it is imperative that we interact with each other on a daily basis, there are bound to be instances where issues or even misunderstandings arise. Through discussion and deliberations, we can continue to help people respect the diversity amongst us and continue to cultivate the sense of mutual-respect. We are of the opinion that Malaysians, on the whole, have come a long way in safe-guarding the racial and religious harmony which exists in this country and the setting-up of this consultative council will further enhance the bond between the different communities.