MALAYSIANS, regardless of creed, must embrace diversity instead of merely promoting tolerance, said Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Reverend Julian Leow Beng Kim.

He said tolerance is a dangerous concept that would not help Malaysians to unite.

“We should move away from being tolerant. We must in the new Malaysia embrace diversity,” he said during the dialogue on National Challenges in New Malaysia organised by Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia today.

He urged the government to hold more open discussions between Muslims and Christians.

“We must not close our doors. Maybe, before (this) it was hard to engage, but now we have an open government. Why must we keep our doors closed for dialogue and engagement?

“We need to prosper as one country, one nation,” he added.

Prof Dr Badlishah Shan Baharin of Muslim group Ikram said in the Quran, Muslims and non-Muslims were told to work together to build a nation.

“Many refuse to accept or do not understand that in the Quran we were told to collaborate, to cooperate, to build a nation. Like what Father Julian said, we must move away from tolerance, and accept diversity.

“My prophet said the most noble person is the most pious among us and the pious among us is the one who embrace differences and diversity. 

“Islam stands humanity, Islam is for all. After all we are all human beings. You may be an Indian or Chinese but we are mere mortals.

“Let us find a common ground to work together and be one nation,” said Badlishah, who is Ikram’s deputy president.

Both speakers agreed that the government must set a new narrative for Malaysia. 

“A new narrative is needed, but politicians must stay out of this, let civil groups work on this narrative,” said Leow.

Today’ event was attended by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waythamoorthy. Others who spoke were Prof Edmund Terrence Gomez, Mohd Shariff Kassim and Prof Dr Medelin Berma. – July 13, 2019.