People of multi faiths preparing for break of fast at Masjid At-Taqwa in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. — Photos: SHAARI CHEMAT/The Star
SOME 150 non-Muslim guests were hosted at Masjid At-Taqwa in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI), Kuala Lumpur, to break fast alongside their Muslim neighbours in a community event celebrating togetherness during Ramadan.
Now in its second year, the initiative saw the number of non-Muslim participants more than double from 70 last year to nearly 150 this year.
Organised by the mosque and supported by the Segambut parliamentary office, the event included a guided tour of the mosque’s facilities and explanations of Islamic practices before the evening meal at sunset.
Segambut MP and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, who launched the event, said she was encouraged by the strong turnout and sense of unity among attendees.
“If there’s one community that best reflects multi-racial Malaysia, it’s Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
About 150 non-Muslims from Segambut constituency joined in the break of fast session in TTDI.
“The road names, the way it’s built – it’s all around the theme of unity,” she said.
Yeoh urged for year-round community interaction and not just seasonal engagement during festive periods.
“Don’t just do so once a year. We need this engagement all year round.
“Every year in the first week of Ramadan, we send out allocations – RM5,000 to each mosque and RM2,000 to each surau, for their Ramadan programmes.
“Our grant is symbolic – mosques spend a lot more than that for daily iftar – but it shows sincerity that we are part of the community,” she added.
Yeoh expressed hope that community initiatives like these would continue throughout the year, rather than being organised only when public figures were involved.
She also encouraged places of worship to take the lead in fostering regular interaction, such as through sports programmes or social gatherings for senior citizens.
In her welcome speech, she touched on the challenges of interfaith relations in the digital age.
“The so-called tension is often online but in reality, people are quite warm and friendly.
“In Malaysia, love your neighbour as you love yourself. If we truly do this, there’ll be no conflict.”
(Seated from right) Masjid At-Taqwa TTDI chairman Datuk Mohd Fadzli Yusof, Chapel of Kristus Chapel Administrator Aman Father William Michael and TTDI resident Rizal Abdul Rahman during the breaking fast event at the mosque. —SHAARI CHEMAT / THESTAR
Masjid At-Taqwa TTDI chairman Datuk Mohd Fadzli Yusof said the mosque welcomed people of all backgrounds and aimed to promote mutual respect.
“Mosques are a place of worship for Muslims but they’re also a symbol of peace, harmony and protection.
“If you have problems, come to the mosque, even if you’re non-Muslim,” he said.
“We may not be able to help with everything, but we’ll try.
“We want to show that the propagation of Islam is by action, or what we call dakwah bil hal,” he added.
At the breaking of fast event, non-Muslim guests were not seated separately and were encouraged to experience breaking fast together.
“We want them to feel at ease and experience the atmosphere of camaraderie,” said Mohd Fadzli.
Among the guests was Chapel of Kristus Aman chapel administrator Father William Michael, who said it was meaningful to share the joy of breaking fast during Ramadan while Christians observed Lent.
“We, the Catholic community here in Taman Tun, are very happy to come together with our Muslim brothers and sisters to share the joy of breaking fast.
“The spirit of unity and brotherhood is here, irrespective of religion or culture,” he said after the event.
Lianne Chuah, who has been a TTDI resident since the 1970s, said it was her first time attending an official mosque event.
Mizumoto (centre) joining in for ‘buka puasa’.
“It’s a step toward really knowing our neighbours.
“It’s one step toward real unity – people of different races and creeds sitting together, all looking very happy,” she said, adding that negative sentiments seen about disunity often did not reflect the daily realities of community life.
Rizal Abdul Rahman, who has lived in the neighbourhood for over 30 years, said the event demonstrated strong community ties.
“It is great to see how it has grown from last year. The mosque isn’t a place people shy away from,” he said.
“It’s good that bigger mosques are creating a warm environment for everyone to get to know each other.
“We have never had racial borders growing up.
“Maybe it is social media that amplifies it,” said Rizal.
Yeoh (left) taking part in a tour of the mosque with other guests.
Japanese expatriate Mai Mizumoto, who lives in Shah Alam, Selangor, and brought along her two children, said it was her first experience visiting a mosque.
“The mosque is very welcoming, even to non-Muslims.
“That’s amazing for me because I used to think religious places might be closed off.
“Now I realise the mosque is open to everyone. It’s a warm place,” she said.
Mizumoto said she attended the event because she wanted to know more about Muslim culture.
“If we don’t try, we will never know. So first we have to learn, then we can understand,” she said.
