CCM Participates in Breaking of Fast with Leaders of Other Faiths
During the period when Muslims in our country observe Ramadan, CCM has had the opportunity to share the experience with the Muslim community through interfaith participation in the breaking of fast.
On September 5, the Islamic Information and Services (ISS) Foundation invited the interfaith community to join them in the breaking of fast at the Palace of Golden Horses Hotel in Sri Kembangan.
The event was hosted by Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew. The President of CCM and the General Secretary attended the event along with other church leaders and religious leaders. Over 100 people were present.
On September 9, the General Secretary attended another event that was organised by the MP of Klang, YB Charles Santiago. It was held at a Surau in Taman Kem, Port Klang. The various religious leaders shared about the importance of fasting in their religious traditions and how sharing each others’ religious festivals can help forged friendships and build bridges across the religious divide between the various religions in the country.
The CCM also endorsed the civil society initiative; “Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia”.
With the intention of drawing Malaysians of different ethnic and religious communities together with a common resolve to promote peace as a way of life of Malaysians, September 16 was identified as a day when a solidarity fast for peace could be undertaken by anyone committed to peace and harmony in the country.
As CCM member churches have used Sunday worship in the month of August to pray for the nation, the “fast for the nation” brings in a new dimension from an interfaith perspective.
5 petitions were proposed to guide the prayer fast.
- Let our common experience of hunger and human weakness, humble, strengthen
and unite us. - Let us offer a hospitable smile to people we know and especially to those we don’t.
- Let us perform one extra act of kindness while fasting on that day.
- Let Malaysia be a better country and may it be truly happy and peaceful.
The organisers have set up a website for people to write to share their prayers and thoughts (peace4malaysia09@gmail.com)
In the light of the negative events in the country which cast a bad light of the inter-ethnic and inter-religious relations in the country, common experiences such as the above affirm that the majority of Malaysians denounce the will of a few to incite religious hatred.
A wider-cross section of Malaysian society is coming together to build bridges between communities in order to promote a culture of peace.
