HEADS turned at the famed Street of Harmony in George Town yesterday evening when a group of people in full religious garb went on a “Harmony Walk” in a show of unity in the month of Ramadan.

The walk, organised by Masjid Lebuh Acheh chairman Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa and the Penang Gandhi Peace Centre (PGPC) to promote peace and harmony, began at St George’s Church with some 60 participants.

The group comprised Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, Sikhs and even Zoroastrians.

Among those present were Bishop Sebastian Francis of the Diocese of Penang, Bishop Charles Samuel, the Bishop Suffragan of the Area Diocese of Northern Peninsula, and College-General rector Father Gerard Theraviam.

They walked down Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling to visit houses of worship and as they proceeded to the Goddess of Mercy Temple and Masjid Kapitan Keling, the group grew. When they reached their last stop at Masjid Lebuh Acheh, there were some 100 people gathered together.

At Masjid Kapitan Keling, community leaders gave the group a tour inside the mosque and explained how prayers were performed.

At the Lebuh Acheh mosque, the group met imam Muneer Farid Al-Hafiz, a lawyer who studied at St. Xavier’s Institution, a famous Christian mission school.

After a tour and brief speeches by the organisers and religious leaders, the group sat down on mats to share a buka puasa meal.

The walk left a huge impression on several university students from Australia, who were doing their internship in Penang.

“We came to Penang not expecting to see something so beautiful. We have diversity in Melbourne too but we don’t see people coming together and becoming one like this.

“Thank you for the invitation and letting us witness this. It is an amazing experience. It is so different from back home,” said Kerry Toumbourou, 23, from Deakin University.

Yesterday’s incident came just weeks after a Muslim group warned that non-Muslims were not allowed to take part in buka puasa events if they did not fast, targeting Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

The protestors, led by Jalan Mengkuang PAS branch chief Azmi Jaafar, said Lim had no business joining Muslims in breaking fast when he did not fast like they did, threatening to hold demonstrations if the chief minister attended buka puasa events in mosques.

Bishop Charles said the walk was something special as it had put words into action, showing the world that people in Penang lived in peace.

“Thank you for teaching us to walk hand in hand. And by walking, we learn and by learning, we demonstrate the love God has given us. God created us all in his image. All that we do reflects his message of peace, love and hope,” he said.

Bishop Sebastian said everyone, regardless of their faith, were messengers of peace, joy, hope and justice.

Mujahid said while the world was troubled with the rise of extremism, bigotry and xenophobia, the people in Penang can show how unity and strength could defy radicalism.

“This gathering may be small but we represent the hope of our multiracial and multi-religious society that has been part of the Malaysian social fabric since the country was born,” he said.

The Parit Buntar MP said all faiths shared the common values of peace, justice and humanity, and the essence of being a Muslim was being human; cherishing, embracing and respecting diversity, spreading peace, promoting dialogues in civil environments, and protecting peace by rejecting hatred, prejudices, wars and authoritarianism.

If a Muslim practised those values, he would be a catalyst for peace and not terror, Mujahid said.

Mujahid added that he wanted to expand the harmony programme to other activities, like youth and sports events that could bring people together.

PGPC chairman Dr Anwal Fazal, who suggested the harmony branding for the heritage street years ago, said Penang has managed to keep its diversity alive for centuries and should continue to celebrate that legacy. – June 23, 2017.