Miri Lay Buddhist Association Celebrates Wesak Day – Lee Kim Shin Advocates for a Diverse and Inclusive Society

(Miri, 24th) Sarawak Transport Minister and Senadin State Assemblyman Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin stated that Wesak Day is not only an important festival for Buddhists, but also reminds people of all ethnicities to cherish shared values and promote social unity and harmony.

He made these remarks this morning while attending the bathing of the Buddha ceremony organized by the Miri Lay Buddhist Association in conjunction with Wesak Day.

He said Wesak Day commemorates the birth, enlightenment and parinirvana of Gautama Buddha. The Buddha's teachings emphasize compassion, wisdom, kindness, humility, and peace—values that transcend race, religion, language, and culture, forming an essential foundation for leading society towards harmony.

He pointed out that Sarawak is a society where multiple races and religions coexist. Under Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari's leadership, Sarawak continues to demonstrate a spirit of inclusiveness and unity, becoming a model of multicultural society for the nation and even the world.

He said the state government’s establishment of the Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) clearly demonstrates the emphasis placed on religious harmony and provides funding to assist with the construction, repair, and upgrading of churches, temples, and other non-Muslim places of worship.

He said this not only supports infrastructure development, but also reflects the important role various religions play in Sarawak's future development, stressing that only with mutual respect and inclusiveness can unity become even more robust.

“In Sarawak, religious venues stand side by side, peoples of all ethnicities participate in each other's celebrations, such as Hari Raya, Lunar New Year, Christmas, Gawai Dayak, Deepavali, and Wesak, showcasing a rare and precious culture of openness and tolerance.”

He pointed out that as the world continues to face challenges of division, extremism, and intolerance, Sarawak sends a powerful message to the world—that people of different races and religions can coexist peacefully through respect and understanding.

He emphasized that Buddha’s teachings remain deeply meaningful in today’s world—peace should begin from within oneself, extend to family and society, and social cohesion can be strengthened through caring for others, mutual respect, and the accumulation of good deeds.

He called on everyone to continue safeguarding Sarawak’s hard-won harmony and to educate the younger generation to value unity, inclusiveness, and compassion, ensuring Sarawak remains a model of peace and acceptance.

At the same time, he also announced an allocation of RM35,000 to the Miri Lay Buddhist Association, to be used for promoting religious and community development activities.

Distinguished guests at the event included Sarawak Deputy Minister for Tourism Datuk Sebastian Ting, Miri Mayor Adam Yii, and others.