Monday, October 8, 2001
Dancing to the rhythm of nation's various races
By WANI MUTHIAH
UNITY IN DIVERSITY...the dancers who performed a special dance showcasing
the unity of the various races in Malaysia taking a bow before they leave the
stage in Kuala Lumpur. |
KUALA LUMPUR: The performance was poorly choreographed and it was difficult
not to notice the glitches as the adults and teenagers danced to the tune of
Japanese new age musician Kitaro's famous composition Silkroad.
However, to all those who attended the World Peace Day event organised by
the Bahai Community of Malaysia, the short performance sans gilt and glitter
was without doubt the best they had ever witnessed.
Kicking off with two Chinese women dressed in Indian garb followed by a
couple of Indian women dressed in samfoo, it showcased a collaboration which
represented the various races in a truly unified manner while epitomising
the rich diversity which was unique to Malaysia.
In a speech read out by National Unity and Social Development Ministry
secretary-general Dr P. Manogaran, ministry parliamentary secretary Datuk S.
Veerasingam said the Government had always adopted peace among the races as
the permanent agenda item in most of its programmes.
He added that the Government was an active promoter of peace and aggressively
propagated communal harmony through its various agencies and departments.
"The Government is also encouraging many social organisations and
non-governmental organisations that play their part in promoting unity," he
said.
According to Veerasingam, the current global climate has made peace more
meaningful.
Unfortunately, said Veera- singam, the global human society appears to be
bankrupt of ideas to promote peace and added that people were slowly
concluding that war cannot be eradicated from the face of earth.
The resident co-ordinator of the United Nations in Malaysia, Maxine Olson,
and India's High Commissioner to Malaysia Veena Sikri were among the VIP
guests at the event.
©Copyright 2001, The Star (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
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