By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
KUALA LANGAT, May 15 — The Wesak Day celebration this year marks a time to spark new spirit within the community, says Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari.
The Menteri Besar said that this is due to the ability of the communities to remain united within a society of diverse religions and races even after facing various circumstances.
“I believe that the festival is an important point (of time) to spark (new spirits) not only for the Buddhists but also within the communities. It is a reminder for us to live together in a society of diverse races and religions.
“If we are able to keep the balance and stay united while moving towards the good, the state would continue to succeed and become a rich locality that would be visited by many,” he said during his opening speech at the state-level Wesak Day celebration at Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple in Jenjarom, Kuala Langat, yesterday.
Also present were Special Committee for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism, and Taoism (Limas) chairman Dato’ Teng Chang Khim, heads of the Buddhist religious associations, foreign leaders, state assemblymen and Selangor Members of Parliament.
Amirudin said Selangor would continue to be an attraction due to the peace, equality, harmony and justice within its society.
“As I recalled in 2008, the population in the state stood at 4.6 million. When I became the Menteri Besar, it had risen to 6.5 million. The latest data from the Department of Statistics Malaysia shows that the figure had increased to more than seven million.
“This is due to the peace that is present in Selangor. This is our effort together as a society as we play a role in keeping the unity and harmony,” he said.
The Selangor Wesak Day Festival is held for two days this year on May 14 and 15, after the state-level celebration had been called off for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The two-day programme, which expects to see some 5,000 visitors, also marks the 60th anniversary of Wesak Day declared a public holiday in Malaysia.
