SEREMBAN: Being the leading Chinese organization in Malaysia, The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) would always promote Malaysia’s unique multiracial and multicultural identity, said Tan Sri T.C Goh, President of The Federation of Chinese Associations (Huazong).
He cited the annual Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival, which was initiated by Huazong, for example, has always exhibited such unique features in its programmes.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) said this while speaking at the cultural performance held during the closing ceremony of the 37th Malaysian Cultural Festival, at the multipurpose hall of SMK Chung Hua here, last Sunday. The said event was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob. Also in attendance were, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing, Dato’ Seri Aminuddin Harun, the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Jalaluddin Alias, Wong Keng Tong, President of the Negeri Sembilan Chinese Assembly Hall (Sheng Hua Tang), its Honorary Life Advisor Dato’ Seri Lee Tian Hock, MP for Seremban Anthony Loke, and the leaders and representatives of the various state Chinese assembly halls, among others.
To show respect for the Prime Minister, who was the guest-of-honour for the occasion, Ouyang Yujing delivered his speech in English, while Goh delivered his in Bahasa Malaysia. Such a gesture received commendations from the Prime Minister and the Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan, and the parliamentary and state elected representatives.
In his speech, Goh noted that all these while both Huazong and Sheng Hua Tang have been playing the role of bridging the people and the government; this was done through dialogues with senior government leaders, including the current and previous Prime Ministers. He recalled that the last time Huazong had a meeting cum dialogue with the Prime Minister was on June 7, this year, where Huazong raised various significant issues concerning the country and the Chinese community.
He also reiterated Huazong’s full support for the ‘Malaysian Family’ concept advocated by the Prime Minister, citing that it is very appropriate for a multiracial, multicultural and multi-religion nation like Malaysia.
“Being a component of the Malaysian Chinese community and Malaysia, as a whole, we fully support the ‘Malaysian Family’ concept advocated by the Prime Minister as it is very much in line with our nation-building agendas, as a multiracial country,” he said.
He then recalled that the Prime Minister had in his speech when officiating at the South-east Asian Ulama Conference 2022 held here, in late June this year, emphasized on the concept of ‘tolerance’ (‘tasamuh’) as the tool to unite Muslims and to promote harmony between Muslims and non Muslims, throughout the world.
Ismail Sabri also said the concept of ‘tasamuh’ emphasises the value of togetherness, that is in line with the Malaysian Family concept which is able to continue encouraging people in the country to understand and appreciate the uniqueness of Malaysia’s multi-racial society.
Goh thus opined that the concept of ‘tolerance’ too should be fully adopted by a multiracial and multi-faiths country like Malaysia.
He also noted that the 37th Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival was supposed to be held in 2020 but it had to be postponed to this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Next year, it will be Sabah’s turn to host the festival, and we hope our Prime Minister can come and join us,” he said.
Goh later joined the Prime Minister and other invited guests in witnessing the handing over of the flag of the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Festival by Huazong Secretary-general Datuk Dr Wong Aik Loung to FCAS, which was received by its Vice President, Kapitan Fung Chun Fatt.
