The relationship between Malaysians of different races and religions can be improved if they are more open and civil with one another.
The Raja Muda of Perak, Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, said that without effective communication, relations among the people would be strained by crisis and conflict, even if they shared a roof or lived in the same village.
He said it was the norm in many multi-racial and religious countries to have conflicts about language, tradition and culture, particularly when the communication gap was not bridged.
"A country’s peace and harmony must be safeguarded. This is a heavy responsibility. It is hard to maintain peace, but it’s so much easier to destroy it.
"Even the most trivial of misunderstandings, such as a small accident or an inconspicuous noise by neighbours, or even a branch from a tree that has fallen onto a neighbour’s garden — all these can trigger conflicts and strained relations," he said when chairing the 158th conference of the Perak Malay Customs and Religious Council at the Kompleks Islam here yesterday.
Raja Nazrin also accepted business and agriculture tithes worth RM3.89 million from Lembaga Tabung Haji (RM1,667,307.41), Bank Rak- yat Malaysia Berhad (RM1,672,709), Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd (RM119,933) and Felcra Berhad Seberang Perak (RM430,358.60), on behalf of the State Religious Council.
Also present yesterday were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, Perak Mufti Datuk Seri Harussaini Zakaria and State Religious Department director and council secretary Datuk Jamry Sury.
Source: www.nst.com (2 Juli 2007)
