Wesak Day celebrations at the Buddhist Maha Vihara in Brickfields was a little different this year. Apart from the thousands of devotees thronging its grounds, the temple also played host to two unusual guests – Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.
Minutes before Najib arrived, volunteers scurried around distributing miniature flags and lining up the crowd alongside the red carpet. Parents pushed their children to the front and even monks gathered in small scattered groups, hoping for a glimpse of the prime minister, who was visiting the Maha Vihara on Wesak Day for the first time since taking office.
Najib and Rosmah Mansor were greeted with an uproarious fanfare of dancers and drumbeats as they walked through the flag-waving crowd to the Dewan Asoka where the main event was being held. Also present were Health Minister Low Tiong Lai and Transport Minister Ong Tee Keat.
In his speech, Najib spoke of his vision to make Malaysia an example for the rest of the world where religion is concerned.
“I come in the spirit of your beliefs and practices,” he told the crowd. “The government’s primary objective is for the 1Malaysia concept to guarantee the right of all citizens to have a sense of belonging in this country. Religious tolerance plays a vital role in achieving this by ensuring that all citizens are able to practise their religion with dignity and without harassment.”
“The core of Buddhism is to follow a middle path and avoid extremism in any form. This correlates with the basic principle of democracy: maintaining a balance between rights and responsibility. Religious tolerance is vital in building a strong moral fibre and framework to take the nation to the forefront of the world.”
Praise for Najib
In acknowledging the contributions of Buddhist Malaysians to the nation’s growth, he also urged other Malaysians to follow in the Buddhst teachings of wisdom and compassion.
Chief monk, Venerable K Sri Dhammaratana, praised Najib for being an example of a leader who respects a multiracial society and thanked him for honouring his promise to visit the temple on Wesak Day this year.
“Najib is the third prime minister to celebrate Wesak Day with us,” he said to applause from the crowd. “And I would like to invite him to join us every year for this celebration.”
The event was scheduled to close with a choir performance, but the programme had to be temporarily halted when the media caught sight of Ramsay waiting patiently in the sidelines.
Attempts by security to control the crowd were in vain as both media and guests clamoured around the main table to catch Ramsay serving Najib and Rosmah a dish of mixed vegetables with milk rice.
According to Buddhist Maha Vihara president, Leslie Tilak, Ramsay had learnt to prepare the dish from devotees as part of a show that he is currently filming.
Author : Stephanie Sta Maria
Source : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com
