Malaysians Fortunate To Live In Conflict-Free Country - Consort Of The Sultan Of Johor State

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysians should be thankful because they live in a country which is at peace and not experiencing an armed conflict or a civil war, said the consort of the Sultan of Johor (Malaysia's southern state), Raja Zarith Sofiah Sultan Idris. She said Malaysians should also be proud of their racial diversity and ability to live together peacefully for many decades. "We are aware of the rising crime rates in certain cities while the streets are not safe at night. But there is a difference...we do not have to seek refuge in other countries, as many Syrians have had to do." Raja Zarith Sofiah said this in her royal address at the Association of Voices of Peace, Conscience and Reason (PCORE) - Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute (ASLI) Forum 2013, entitled 'Unity and Multiculturalism: Building A Future Together', at the Institute of Integrity, here, Thursday. Raja Zarith Sofiah, who is also the chancellor of University of Technology, Malaysia, said if Malaysians needed any reminding or any convincing about how wonderful and how blessed they were to live in a peaceful country, they must stay united as a nation and look at what happened daily in Syria and Egypt. "As outsiders and as foreigners, we do not know as much as the Syrians and the Egyptians themselves do, as to the causes of the conflicts in both countries. "But what we see on the news and on the Internet, is enough to tell us that events in both countries have spiralled out of control, that the people there have suffered and continue to suffer, and that there have been far too many deaths," she said. Raja Zarith Sofiah said if Malaysians wished to live in a country which enjoyed peace, they must make great efforts at quelling racial and religious intolerance, as well as racial and religious ignorance. "We cannot encourage any sort of intolerance, regardless of which racial or religious community we belong to. There is no place for any sort of overt or covert hatred." Raja Zarith Sofiah said the one-day forum was about multiculturalism in this country and those attending had already decided that unity was an important issue and so were mutual respect and understanding. "But what about Malaysians who think differently and who are not willing to either respect or understand those of other races and religions? How do we reach out to them? How do we convince them that what concerns us should also concern them. "These are the challenges we are faced with, and we have to find ways and means of getting our message through to all Malaysians," she added. -- BERNAMA