We need to value one and all

On Merdeka Day today, let us begin by imagining a more inclusive, kind and forgiving Malaysia. A Malaysia that embraces any and all.

A year before Malaya gained her independence, the idea to build a Buddhist temple close to Kuala Lumpur was mooted. The temple was to “reflect the status of Buddhism as one of the major religions in the country, and also serve as a symbol of the long standing close relationship that existed between Thailand and Malaya”, said a commemorative publication in 2007, marking the 50th anniversary of the Thai Buddhist Chetawan Temple on Jalan Pantai, Kuala Lumpur.