Bahais meet to promote unity, world peace

MORE unity is better than more security when it comes to world peace. That was the message given by the Malaysian Bahai community's World Peace Day celebrations held yesterday.

Themed "Volunteerism Towards World Peace," the community's representative, Paul Koh said that world peace has ceased to be an option and is now a necessity.

"Never before in the history of mankind has the need for global peace become more crucial and pressing, as mankind now lives in a global community. Gone are the days when he could worry only about himself, his family and tribe.

"This is a complex problem but there is one solution and it requires putting man in order so that we can put the world in order."

Koh said that once man is at peace with himself, his fellow men and the community, then the whole world would achieve peace and this calls for everyone to do their part.

The United Nation's Resident Coordinator in Malaysia, Maxine Olson quoted UN secretary general Kofi Annan, who said that since wars begin in the minds of man so the defence of peace must begin in the minds of man.

She added that the recent acts of terror in New York and Washington should result in efforts that further unite the world and not divide it.

Olson said that shields may be able to protect individual countries against violence and ensure peace after the attack but they also have the effect of dividing the world.

Meanwhile, National Unity and Social Development Ministry's Parliamentary Secretary, Datuk S Veerasingam said that Malaysia is a shining example of unity providing peace.

In his speech, which was read by the ministry"s secretary general, Dr P Manogran, he said the Malaysian Government has always adopted peace initiatives among the various races as a permanent agenda in most of its programmes.

"There are many communities with plural societies where people of different races live together. However Malaysia is about the only one where a diverse range of people from various religious, cultural and ethnic backgrounds have proven that they can live in almost perfect harmony.

"This is due to the fact that the people have accepted the reality that peaceful co-existence is something that cannot be avoided altogether."

He said Malaysians are also united by one national language that has been highly instrumental in fostering a common form of communication among the Malaysian people, but the various races are also allowed to have their own vernacular schools, some of which are funded by the government.