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KUCHING, June 26: The ‘Sarawak formula’ of religious and racial harmony and understanding ought to be shared with other communities outside Sarawak as the basis of a healthy interfaith and inter-racial relationship for a better world to live in for all, says Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg.
The Premier said this in his address at the engagement session with RISEAP (Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of Southeast Asia and the Pacific) members of the Southern Zone at a hotel in Auckland, New Zealand.
“As a Muslim leader tasked with administering and developing multi-religious and multi-racial Sarawak, I am duty bound to ensure that my administration is inclusive and the rights and interests of all races and religions are protected based on the five ‘maqasid syariah’ principles.
“It is my duty to ensure that other religions besides Islam are given parallel opportunities to thrive based on the five principles of the Maqasid, which are the protection of life, protection of property, protection of health, protection of religion, and protection of dignity,” said Abang Johari.
He pointed out that in Sarawak, other religions have been assisted through the Unit for Other Religions (Unifor) to ensure that they have proper and dignified places of worship in line with the protection of religion and upholding human and religious dignity.
“This year, I’m giving Unifor RM100 million for other religions in Sarawak to build their houses of worship,” he said.
To him, respect must be accorded to other races and religions as “respect can only be earned” in the inclusive development of religion and races.
Citing the fact that he is a product of a mission school, he said funding has also been given for operational purposes in mission schools, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also addressed the significance of technological development, green economy, education, and the various initiatives against climate change, such as carbon capture storage utilisation and carbon trading.
“Where are we as Muslims in terms of managing our country and duty as Muslims?” he asked the members.
RISEAP member countries in the Southern Zone consist of Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, New Caledonia, and Western Samoa.
The Premier’s visit here is his first official visit to member countries since his election as president in January this year.
Meanwhile, representatives from member associations of RISEAP in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji also presented their reports.
Abang Johari, accompanied by Deputy Minister for Utility and Telecommunication Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, who is also in charge of Islamic affairs and others, arrived at Auckland for a two-day visit.
RISEAP, now with 24 member countries, was formed in 1980 with the late Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra al-Haj, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister as its founding president primarily to bring together Muslim-minority countries in East Asia and the Pacific to pursue collective ambitions in the expansion and cause of Islam. — DayakDaily
