JENJAROM: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s presence at Fo Guang Shan Dong Zen Temple for the Selangor Chinese New Year celebration has received positive comments from various sectors.

The Sultan of Selangor’s action has eased anxiety over remarks made by religious extremists recently.

The Sultan of Selangor graced the Selangor Chinese New Year celebration held at Dong Zen Temple, attesting to his unwavering stand in defending multi-culturalism and religious diversity in Malaysia.

Venerable Jue Cheng, Chief Abbess of Dong Zen Temple cum head of Fo Guang Shan temples in Singapore, Malaysia, India, and Thailand, said the hard work and effort made were all paid off.

“All the efforts made for the Chinese New Year lantern festival are worth it,” said Ven Jue Cheng in a message she sent to all, including volunteers, as the lantern festival drew to a close.

“Buddhist monks and nuns at Dong Zen Temple as well as volunteers are playing their roles to achieve harmony by promoting Buddhism which preaches peaceful co-existence, striving together and religious tolerance,” she said.

The Chinese community throughout the country has been anxious about religious issues for so many years, said Ven Jue Cheng, but the visit by Sultan Sharafuddin has created a reverse impact, converting the crisis to a positive outcome.

Media Chinese International Limited (Malaysia) Group Editor-in-Chief Dato’ Kuik Cheng Kang presented a special edition of Sin Chew Daily’s front page to His Royal Highness and Tengku Permaisuri as a gesture of appreciation following the royal visit.

The special cover was based on the newspaper’s frontpage story on 9 February headlined “Opposing guidelines restricting Muslims from attending non-Muslim celebrations, Selangor Sultan supports cultural diversity”.

Kuik gifted Dong Zen Temple a tailor-made frontpage photo of Fo Guang Shan Chief Abbot Venerable Hsin Bao tossing yee sang with the Sultan, in conjunction with the second anniversary of Fo Guang Shan founder Master Hsing Yun’s passing.

The gift to both the Sultan of Selangor and Dong Zen Temple marks the Malaysian Chinese community’s deep appreciation for the Sultan’s staunch defence of cultural diversity and religious tolerance in the country.

The Selangor Chinese New Year celebration graced by Sultan Sharafuddin at Dong Zen Temple for the first time will be a celebration for all.

“There were moments which touched my heart for the past one week. I believe the colourful lanterns at Dong Zen Temple have lit up the way forward for Malaysians,” Selangor Exco Ng Sze Han posted on his Facebook page.

Ng was present at the state-level CNY celebration at Dong Zen temple last Saturday.

He also witnessed the handover of the special front cover by Kuik to Sultan Sharafuddin this Wednesday.

It was reported that the Sultan of Selangor expressed his disagreement with the proposal to introduce guidelines for Muslims attending non-Muslim celebrations, particularly in Selangor.

In a statement posted on the Selangor Royal office’s Facebook last Saturday, His Royal Highness said religious tolerance should never be compromised in a multiracial country with people of diverse religions and beliefs.

As the head of Islam in Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin said the proposed guidelines were ill-timed, especially when Malaysians are actively strengthening goodwill and interfaith harmony to foster national unity.

The proposed guidelines on Muslim participation in festive celebrations of other religions were dropped by the government on 7 February.

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Sin Chew Daily presents front cover on diversity to Sultan Selangor