CONTINUE IN TOLERANT WAYS, JOHOREANS TOLD

By HAMDAN RAJA ABDULLAH

TANGKAK: Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman wants the people of Johor to continue with their inter-faith tolerance which has brought peace and stability to the country.

Speaking to the Chinese community in Kampung Serom Dua, he said that for years people of different religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds had lived together in peace.

“We in Johor have been respecting and accepting one another and we must continue to do so.

Plural society: Ghani laying the foundation stone for the hall at Wu Sheng Gong Temple in Kampung Serom Dua, Tangkak, recently.

“These differences are our strength and we should not try to destroy what makes us strong,” he said before laying the foundation stone for a hall at the Wu Sheng Gong Temple here on Friday.

Abdul Ghani said the official residence of the Mentri Besar in Johor Baru was within walking distance of a church, a Chinese temple, a Sikh gurdwara, a Hindu temple and a mosque.

He said the sites for these places of worship in Johor Baru were donated by the Sultan of Johor as the Ruler wanted the people to respect each other’s religions.

He said, when appointed as Mentri Besar, his first move was to implement a holistic policy which covered every aspect of the people’s needs, including religious practices.

“Our differences have been tested over the years but we resolved any crises as we practise tolerance and accept each other’s way of life.

“Today, I am proud to see a beautiful temple built by the Chinese in Serom,” he said while announcing a RM300,000 allocation for the temple.

SOURCE: THE STAR, TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 2009