Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stresses religious tolerance and safety of places of worship as key to maintaining Malaysia’s multiracial harmony.
KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said greater emphasis must be placed on strengthening religious tolerance and ensuring the safety of places of worship to preserve harmony.
He said the need is increasingly significant, especially in urban areas that house various places of worship, requiring mutual respect and high standards of conduct.
Citing Brickfields as an example, he said the area is home to more than 17 places of worship of different religions, including churches and temples.
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“We must learn to respect other religions,“ he said when officiating the new additional building of the Madrasathul Gouthiyyah surau in Brickfields.
Ahmad Zahid said the development of places of worship should balance physical infrastructure with their social role as centres for community interaction.
He added that Muslims must set the best example through good character in managing differences.
“Whether among Muslims themselves or with followers of other religions, we must uphold the principle of religious tolerance,“ he said.
The surau’s new building, completed last month, is an expansion project aimed at addressing the increasing number of congregants and improving safety.
The surau began as a madrasah in 1987 and was upgraded to a Friday prayer surau in 2012.
It now faces capacity constraints as the existing building can only accommodate about 800 worshippers, forcing prayers to be conducted outside.
The temporary closure of the main road for about 30 minutes every Friday is currently required to ensure congregant safety. – Bernama
