STATEMENT BY MR. MOHD SUHAIMI AHMAD TAJUDDIN, CHARGE D’AFFAIRES A.I. PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF

Excellency Co-Chairs,

Venerable Members of Sanga,

Excellencies, Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Allow me at the outset to wish ‘Happy Vesak day’ to every one of you who professes the teaching of Gautama Buddha.

2.      My delegation joins others in expressing our gratitude to both Co-Chairs, His Excellency Vitavas Sriviohok of Thailand and His Excellency Amrith Rohan Perera of Sri Lanka as well as all the committee members for organizing today’s commemoration of International Day of Vesak.

understanding, tolerance and respect among peoples of different faiths and cultures, despite Malaysia being a Muslim majority country. 

4.      We firmly believe that it is important for us to address the differences that we have, in order for us appreciate the diversity, distinctiveness, and uniqueness of others. This, we trust, would help in addressing racial discrimination, xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-semitism and many other forms of hatred based on religions and beliefs that has been growing in the recent past. All of us have to work together to check the spread of these sentiments, which we know have caused the commission of the hate crimes that have claimed many innocent lives throughout the world.

Madam President,

5.      Allow me to reiterate Malaysia’s continued support for this annual celebration. Perhaps it is timely for us, as the United Nations and as individual state to celebrate various religious and cultural important days so as to remind us the importance of promoting understanding among people of different cultures, religions and civilizations, particularly in our common efforts towards achieving peace among all mankind.

I thank you.