KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6- The people in the country should understand the culture, tradition and religion of the various races so that the concept of moderation can continue to be applied in the lives of Malaysians and harmony is preserved.
Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin (photo) said the concept of moderation which had existed for so long was becoming bleak after Malaysia achieved its independence.
“We should go back to the basic so that the people of all races in the country understand the culture, tradition, religion and customs of other races and they should learn from one another,” he told reporters after the Global Moderation Roundtable Series, with the title ‘Moderation in China’s Cultural Tradition and Perspective’ here today.
On today’s discussion, Hamzah said the concept of moderation should be looked on a holistic manner and not only from the meaning of the word.
Referring to China, which he said, had adopted an open economic system, from communism previously, Malaysia should learn how its people were able to accept changes for the good of their country.
Earlier in his speech, Hamzah said moderation had always been a point on which Malaysia had been especially proud, particularly its involvement in peacekeeping and conflict resolution within the region and across the globe.
During the roundtable session, Prof Dr Yih Cheih-Chung and Zhang Jun Mei, from the China Academy of Social Sciences, shared their views on the ‘Chung Yung’ principle (a kind of moderation principle) derived from Confucianism.
Moderation does not mean we have “to hold the steering wheel to one direction only” but at the same time to adjust it without going out from the moderation way, said Dr Yih.
– BERNAMA
