King calls for moderation to achieve greater unity

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, today called on the people to cherish the "wasatiyyah" (moderation) approach, saying it would lead to greater unity and excellence.

He said he was convinced that Malaysians fully understood and realised the importance of unity in a nation.

"Unity, stability and well-being are very important to nurture the development, strength and sovereignty of the nation," he said at the national-level Prophet Muhammad's birthday celebration, here.

The Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Hajah Haminah, was also present at the event.

The celebration, carrying the theme "Wasatiyyah Tonggak Kesatuan Ummah" (Moderation the Key to Unity of the People), was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Tuanku Abdul Halim advised the people to nurture and consolidate unity to build strength for the advancement of religion, the people and country.

"Let us together ensure the success of every reform and change by using the mould of Islam in a moderate and balanced manner as taught by Prophet Muhammad," he said.

He said the biography of Prophet Muhammad also showed that diversity in the community in terms of ethnicity, religion, culture and language was not a problem or obstacle to unity so long as moderation was applied in any approach.

At the event, Tuanku Abdul Halim presented the "Maulidur Rasul" Premier Award to former Sarawak Islamic Council president and former Sarawak mufti Datuk Seri Anis Abot.

The celebration began with a procession over a 1.7-km route by about 13,000 people, comprising representatives from government departments, statutory bodies, uniformed organisations, the private sector, tertiary institutions and schools.

Also in the procession were participants riding high-powered motorcycles, the mounted units of the police, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Putrajaya Corporation as well as members of boating teams.

In TERENGGANU, the Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, called on the people to nurture the two legacies of Prophet Muhammad, the Quran and the Sunnah, in their daily lives.

He said he hoped that Muslims would adhere to the Sunnah in all fields, whether it was their career, household or society, to ensure a prosperous and peaceful life.

About 15,000 people from various organisations attended the state-level celebration at the State Stadium in Kuala Terengganu. They also marched in a procession for about 2.2 kilometres, from Dataran Shahbandar to the stadium.

Also present were Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said and state executive councillors, heads of government departments, community leaders and representatives of NGOs and private companies.