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| In solidarity: (From left) Uthaya Sankar, Marina and Cheong launching the #Fast4Malaysia initiative. |
PETALING JAYA: Organisers of #Fast4Malaysia are calling on Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, to fast for a day on July 31 to show unity and peace.
Social activist Datin Paduka Marina Mahathir, blogger Niki Cheong and Uthaya Sankar SB of Projek Dialog, who are organising the initiative, called on non-Muslims to join their Muslim friends in fasting and breaking fast together for a day.
“There seems to have been so many incidents lately that are pulling the people apart. We wanted to do something to bring people together,” said Marina, citing the controversialSelamat Berbuka Puasa posting by sex bloggers Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee on their Facebook page as well as the recent uproar over pupils eating in a shower room at SK Seri Pristana in Sungai Buloh.
Marina said a similar initiative – “Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia” – was organised in 2009 at a time when racial sentiments were running high.
“I felt it was time to do something like that again to promote unity and bring the people together,” she said, adding that the initiative was non-political and non-partisan.
Participants in the initiative can organise sahur (the pre-fasting meal) or buka puasa (the breaking of fast) with their friends and colleagues wherever they are.
They are also asked to post a photo or video of the gathering and say something about their experience on social media using the #Fast4Malaysia hashtag, which will be picked up by the organisers and compiled on another website at fast4malaysia.tumblr.com.
They can also sign an online petition at http://www.change.org/en GB/petitions/malaysians-fast-for-malaysia-on-july-31-2013.
Cheong said it was their way of promoting peace, unity and understanding.
“So far, more than 200 Malaysians have pledged to join us,” he said.
Uthaya Sankar said the initiative was in response to “the many recent examples of hate and insensitivity to each other”.
to promote unity among muslim and non muslim - fasting
ReplyDeleteto promote unity among hindus and non- hindus don't eat cows
to promote unity among buddhism and non - buddhism - wear a robe, bald you hair and walkabout
to promote unity among christians and non-christians go listen to a sermon.
why not to promote unity among malaysians by giving the right info, non biased info about religion and races. a little bit tolerance with the majority, a little bit respect to the majority.
why is it the action of a few justified the needs of the many?