Kuala Lumpur – MIC President and Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S.Subramaniam in wishing “Merry Christmas to all Malaysians celebrating Christmas” has called on people to “remember and cherish the birth of Jesus Christ whose teachings and contributions are still relevant today in a world besieged with religious intolerance and terrorism against mankind”.
The following is the full text of his Christmas message:
“Merry Christmas to all Malaysians celebrating Christmas. May God’s peace and joy reign in all the hearts of the families in Malaysia and let this be another occasion for all Malaysians to come together putting aside their religious and racial identities.
Celebration of Christmas is a day for Christians all over the world to remember and cherish the birth of Jesus Christ whose teachings and contributions are still relevant today in a world besieged with religious intolerance and terrorism against mankind.
Jesus Christ, although hailed as the messenger of God, was born and lived as one among us on earth and sacrificed his life for the people. His preaching to love others and to forgive is not only reminded to Christians alone but also to followers of other religions time and time again. I also believe his teachings on “do to others whatever you would like them to do to you” is the essence of life and would bring about better understanding and peace among people if obediently followed.
During the last few days as we hear grueling and worrying stories of terrorism and human sufferings from Syria to Germany, we can see the relevance and importance of teachings of Jesus Christ in today’s world on love and peace .
In this time of festivities, let us always bear in mind that our health is our greatest wealth. Let’s focus on our health, by eating healthy food and moderately as we celebrate Christmas and New Year.
Healthy eating lifestyle needs to prevail amongst us during any celebration since we live in a multi-cultured country where festivities and celebrations take place throughout the year. We need to be cautious in the cuisines that we feast upon, bearing in mind to indulge moderately and also not to forget the diseases that over-eating and over-indulgence can lead to.
Christmas is a day of meaning and traditions, a special day to be spent in the warmth of family’s circle and friends. For Malaysians it is also another occasion to come together to establish our long cherished racial unity and religious understanding by hosting and attending ‘open houses’, which is a unique Malaysian style of celebrating religious festivals.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you and may this Christmas be a day of joy and peace for all of you.”
