Come together this Wesak Day

I can already see volunteers hard at work preparing for Wesak Day – commemorating the birth, enlightenment and the passing of Gautama Buddha. All over Malaysia, temples will be bustling with activity as devotees flock to attend the various activities. Streets will be packed with processions of beautiful floats. There will be an abundance of joy and peace and forgiveness as people seek blessings for themselves and their loved ones.

If there was one thing I could wish for our country, it would be for everyone to set aside their differences for the greater good. For neighbours to treat each other with kindness, spouses with love and siblings with kindness. For children to be respectful and parents to be nurturing. And of course for the people to prosper under this Government, and for politicians to serve them to the best of their abilities.

This Wesak Day, I wish for Malaysians regardless of race or ethnicity to come together as one. Day by day we grow steadily towards the pinnacle of our achievements: Vision 2020, a vision possible only if we can be united in times of peace as well as times of difficulty. There will be many obstacles for us to overcome in the next few years but I am confident that we as a nation can do it.

Here’s wishing all Malaysians Buddhists a Happy Wesak Day.