Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia’s diversity is a source of strength and not division, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke in conjunction with Wesak Day, calling for unity through empathy, compassion, and mutual respect. Speaking at a Wesak Day celebration at the iconic Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple in Brickfields, Loke underscored the importance of embracing the nation’s multicultural identity, saying that shared values such as compassion, wisdom, and mindfulness transcended religious boundaries.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Loke highlighted that differences enrich Malaysian society, shaping a national character that is compassionate, inclusive, and resilient. He emphasized that the values represented by Wesak-compassion, wisdom, mindfulness, and selflessness-are not only Buddhist virtues but universal human values resonating across all faiths and philosophies.

He further added that Malaysia’s peaceful coexistence among various faiths and ethnicities is a testament to the nation’s maturity and the legacy of its forefathers. In a world often marked by conflict and polarization, Malaysia stands as an example of how people of different ethnicities and religions can live, work, and celebrate side by side.

Following the ceremony, Loke joined more than 5,000 Buddhist devotees in a colorful float procession held in conjunction with the celebration. The procession, featuring around 30 decorated floats, covered a 12-kilometer route before returning to the Maha Vihara Temple. Wesak Day is of central importance to Buddhists, commemorating the birth, enlightenment, and passing of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. The festival is marked by the lighting of incense sticks and lotus-shaped candles, the offering of flowers, and the symbolic bathing of the Buddha statue.