Selangor State Level Wesak Celebrations 2012

Wesak commemorates the three important events in the life of the Buddha- His Birth, Enlightenment and Passing Away. These events took place on the full-moon day in the lunar month of Vesakha, which falls between April and May in our conventional calendar. Officially, the first full-moon day of May is designated as Wesak Day in Malaysia. Amongst Buddhists, it is also known as Buddha Jayanti – the Birth of the Enlightened One. Wesak has been declared as a public holiday since 1962, in recognition of Buddhism being the religion with the second largest following in the country.

After His Enlightenment, the Buddha wandered through many parts of India for forty-five years, compassionately disseminating the message of peace without any discrimination as to who his listeners were. Millions followed His teachings and realized their greatest potential as human beings – having attained that unshakable peace of mind and liberation from suffering.

The Buddha left behind a rich legacy of teachings - the Dhamma-Vinaya. Over the last twenty six centuries, people continue to look into His sublime teachings for solace, inspiration and guidance. Throughout history, the disciples of the Buddha – monks, nuns and lay people – have faithfully carried out the message of the Great Teacher, persistently and diligently serving the world with compassion. The contribution of Buddhism towards the spiritual and cultural advancement of humanity is indeed most valuable, and is even recognized by the United Nations.

Recognizing the Buddhist community’s contribution to the state and being the second largest religious community in the state, the State Government of Selangor for the second year continuously will be holding an official Wesak celebration at the Jubli Perak Auditorium, Shah Alam at 7.00 pm, Tuesday, 1st May 2012.This event will be officiated by the Dato’ Menteri Besar of Selangor; Y.A.B. Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Abdul Khalid bin Ibrahim.

The program during the celebration includes performance by some of the popular Buddhist performing groups in the country which includes Bodhi Group, Big Chip and Guan Yin Foundation. Dances will be presented by the internationally acclaimed Dua Space Dance Theatre while the Tzu-Chi Buddhist Merit Society will be performing Hand Gestures accompanied by songs. The Fo Guang San Malaysia will be presenting an animation on the Buddha and also other performances.

There will three Wesak Day Floats exhibit outside the auditorium building and an exhibition on the Life of the Buddha will be displayed at the ground floor of the building.

Admission to this celebration cum concert is free of charge. Members of the public are advised to arrive early as general seating’s are on first come first serve basis. Light vegetarian food will be served from 6.00pm onwards at the banquet hall before the performances starts.

Selangor Menteri Besar during Selangor State Level Wesak Celebration

Ucapan

YAB TAN SRI DATO’ SERI ABDUL KHALID BIN IBRAHIM

DATO’ MENTERI BESAR SELANGOR

Pada

MAJLIS SAMBUTAN HARI WESAK NEGERI SELANGOR

Tarikh  5 JUN 2011 (AHAD)  3 REJAB 1432

Tempat AUDITORIUM DEWAN JUBLI PERAK, BANGUNAN SSAAS, SHAH ALAM

Masa 8.15 MALAM

Selamat Sejahtera dan Selamat Menyambut Hari Wesak kepada semua Penganut Agama Buddha.

Yang Berhormat Dato’ Teng Chang Khim,

Tuan Speaker Dewan Negeri Selangor;

Yang Berhormat Ahli-Ahli Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri Selangor;

Yang Berhormat Ahli-Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri dan Ahli-Ahli Parlimen;

Yang Berbahagia Ketua-Ketua Jabatan dan Warga Kerja Awam dan Swasta;

Yang Berusaha Encik Loka Ng Sai Kai,
Pengerusi Selangor Buddhist Development Committee;

Yang Berbahagia Dato’-Dato’, Datin-Datin, Ahli-Ahli Majlis, Para Pemimpin Pertubuhan Agama dan Para Pemimpin Masyarakat;
serta Wakil-Wakil Media Massa, Tuan-Tuan dan Puan-Puan yang Budiman.

(1) Saya bersyukur kerana dapat hadir bersama tuan-tuan dan puan-puan pada malam ini khususnya kepada para penganut agama Buddha yang menyambut hari Wesak pada tahun ini. Saya berbangga kerana pihak Kerajaan Negeri yang mengusahakan sambutan hari Wesak peringkat negeri pada kali ini, sementelahan pula penduduk Selangor yang beragama Buddha merupakan golongan beragama kedua besar di negeri ini selepas golongan penduduk beragama Islam.

Para Hadirin yang Dihormati;

(2) Kita maklum, Hari Wesak dirayakan oleh semua penganut agama Buddha di seluruh dunia. Ia dirayakan pada Mei setiap tahun, pada waktu bulan purnama, untuk memperingati tiga peristiwa penting, iaitu saat kelahiran Siddharta Buddha, saat beliau menjadi Buddha dan saat kemangkatannya. Perayaan bermula pada waktu pagi dengan penganut ajaran Buddha mengunjungi kuil Buddha untuk memberikan penghormatan kepada Buddha, yang dilambangkan oleh simbol-simbol Buddha seperti pagoda, patung Buddha dan pokok bodhi.

(3) Saya difahamkan Sambutan hari Wesak tahun ini lebih signifikan kerana ia merupakan ulang tahun ke- 2,600 para penganut agama Buddha menyambut saat pencerahan (enlightenment) penuh Buddha. Perkara yang boleh dijadikan iktibar adalah ciri-ciri kesederhanaan dan keharmonian dalam kehidupan manusia yang diberi penekanan oleh ajaran agama Buddha. Saya berpendapat ciri-ciri kesederhanaan dan keharmonian, yang juga wujud dalam ajaran agama-agama utama lain di dunia, wajar didekati dan diamalkan demi kesejahteraan semua.

(4) Saya menyarankan agar kita menjauhi dan menyingkir amalan ekstremis yang dipelopori oleh golongan tertentu yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Perbuatan mereka ini boleh menimbulkan suasana hasad dengki dalam kalangan masyarakat kita yang ingin hidup berbudaya tinggi dan beradab serta saling menyayangi antara satu sama lain; tidak kira kaum, bahasa mahupun agama.

(5) Sesungguhnya, budaya memupuk perasaan kasih-sayang dan hormat-menghormati antara satu sama lain harus dipertingkatkan dalam kehidupan harian agar masyarakat kita boleh bersama-sama bergerak menuju pembangunan negeri Selangor yang lebih mampan dan bestari.

Para Hadirin yang Berbahagia;

(6) Kerajaan Negeri Selangor memang sedar dan prihatin akan keperluan masyarakat beragama Buddha dan cabaran yang mereka hadapi. Saya difahamkan keperluan masyarakat beragama Buddha terutamanya terhadap tanah dan prasarana rumah ibadat meningkat secara mendadak sejak 30 tahun ini disebabkan peningkatan penganut dan anak-anak muda yang menyertai program keagamaan, pendidikan dan kebajikan.

(7) Baru-baru ini sempena perayaan hari Wesak saya sempat berkunjung ke rumah ibadat agama Buddha di Subang Jaya dan Shah Alam. Semasa di sana saya disambut mesra dan saya dapati dua-dua tempat tersebut penuh sesak dengan para penganut agama Buddha. Saya difahamkan keadaan yang sama juga wujud di tempat-tempat lain terutamanya di kawasan bandar yang mempunyai ramai penduduk beragama Buddha.

(8) Untuk pengetahuan umum, sejak Pakatan Rakyat menubuhkan kerajaan di negeri Selangor pada Mac 2008, kita lantas menubuhkan Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Selain Islam yang turut dihadiri oleh wakil-wakil daripada pertubuhan agama selain Islam termasuk tiga daripada agama Buddha. Jawatankuasa ini bermesyuarat enam kali setahun untuk mencuba menyelesaikan pelbagai isu yang berkaitan dengan pelbagai perkara seperti permohonan tanah dan pembinaan rumah ibadat selain Islam serta membincangkan isu kefahaman antara agama.

(9) Saya berharap, melalui penelitian Jawatankuasa ini, isu pemberian kelulusan lambat untuk pembinaan rumah ibadat agama Buddha yang memakan masa hampir 20 tahun sebagaimana yang pernah berlaku di Shah Alam semasa pentadbiran kerajaan terdahulu tidak berulang lagi.

(10) Kerajaan Negeri juga memberi bantuan kepada pelbagai pertubuhan agama untuk membaik pulih rumah-rumah ibadat dan menjalankan urusan keagamaan masyarakat selain Islam. Misalnya, pada tahun 2010, pihak Kerajaan Negeri memperuntukkan sebanyak RM3 juta untuk tujuan ini.

Para Hadirin yang Budiman;

(11) Bagi pihak Kerajaan Negeri, saya mengucapkan syabas kepada semua pemimpin dan penganut agama Buddha kerana segala peranan dan program yang dijayakan di negeri Selangor. Antara program kemasyarakatan yang dikendalikan termasuklah pembinaan insan dan pembangunan masyarakat, kebudayaan, program kitar semula dan bantuan bencana alam.

(12) Dalam hal ini, sangat wajar kiranya dapat pihak pertubuhan agama Buddha menjalin kerjasama dengan pihak Kerajaan Negeri dalam hal penyertaan sukarelawan untuk menghulurkan bantuan kepada mangsa malapetaka apabila diperlukan kelak.

(13) Di samping itu, rumah ibadat juga boleh dijadikan destinasi tarikan pelancong dari dalam dan luar negeri. Misalnya, pihak Kerajaan Negeri amat bangga terhadap usaha oleh rumah ibadat Fo Guang Shan Dongzen di Jenjarom yang berjaya menarik jutaan pelawat setiap tahun. Supaya lebih berkesan, saya cadangkan agar program perarakan kereta berhias hari Wesak sebagaimana yang diadakan di Petaling Jaya dan Seri Kembangan dimasukkan dalam takwim tahunan Tourism Selangor untuk menarik lebih ramai pelancong ke Selangor.

(14) Akhir kata, saya mengucapkan terima kasih kepada semua terutamanya para pegawai kerajaan Negeri dan pihak pertubuhan agama Buddha yang berganding bahu menjayakan program malam ini. Sekali lagi diucapkan, “Selamat Menyambut Hari Wesak”.

Terima kasih. Selamat sejahtera an Selamat malam.

Press Release on Selangor Wesak Celebration

Press Release by Mr. Loka Ng Sai Kai, Chairman of Selangor Buddhist Development Committee and Working Committee Chairman for the Majlis Sambutan Hari Wesak 2011 Peringkat Negeri Selangor in conjunction with the Majlis Sambutan Hari Wesak 2011 Peringkat Negeri Selangor organized by the Selangor State Government with the support of Buddhist organizations in Selangor.

Dated : 5th June 2011                   Time : 8:30pm

a. Buddhist community began to request for Wesak to be declared as a public holiday since 1926 when the then abbot of Mahindarama Buddhist Temple, Ven. K. Gunaratana make the proposal to the then colonial government.

b. During the Japanese occupation, a Japanese official in Dec 1944 urged the Penang Buddhist community to make representation to the Japanese government to declare Wesak in the coming year as a public holiday.

c. After World War II, the British government said it will only consider declaring Wesak as a public holiday if both the Mahayana and Theravada traditions can agree on a same date to celebrate Wesak day. A meeting on 1st March 1949 at Penang Buddhist Association agrees to celebrate Wesak Day on the full moon of May.

d. On 12th April 1949, the colonial government declares Wesak Day which falls on 12th May 1949 as a public holiday in Penang, Melaka, Kedah and Perak. Government servants who are Buddhists in Selangor, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu and Negeri Sembilan were given a holiday on Wesak Day.

e. After many years of efforts by Buddhist and political leaders, the Federation of Malaya government finally declares on 3rd Jan 1962 that the government had adopted the day of Wesak as a public holiday for the whole federation beginning from 1962.

f. The ability to make Wesak as a public holiday was a memorable event and great achievement in the annals of Buddhism in this country. It has united the Buddhist community to work for a common interest in seeking the government’s recognition of the community stature as the second largest religious group in the country.

g. For many years after 1962, the Buddhist community noticed that while the Prime Minister will regularly issue public congratulatory messages in-conjunction with important celebration of major religions in Malaysia, the Prime Minister’s message for Wesak Day was always conspicuously missing. It was only in 1999 after years of representation by the Buddhist community leaders that the then Prime Minister began issuing congratulatory message for Wesak Day.

h. In the 1990s, the government began organizing official state or national events for major religions in this country. But official state or national events to celebrate Wesak Day was never organized by neither any state nor federal governments.

i. Requests have been conveyed to the federal government to organized official state events for the day of Wesak but it just fell on deaf ears.

j. Looking into the past efforts of our Buddhist predecessors, the Buddhist community just wanted to be given the necessary respect and recognition as the religion with the second largest following in this country. Based on the year 2000 population census, the Buddhist population comprised 20.2% of the citizens in this country.

k. Tonight on the 5th of June 2011, the Selangor State Government had taken the lead by organizing the first ever Selangor State Level Wesak Celebration in-conjunction with this year’s Wesak Day. Never in the history of the nation have any state or even the federal government had ever organized an official state event for the day of Wesak.

l. We would like to congratulate and thank the Selangor State Government for this noble effort and undertakings. More than 45 major Buddhist organizations in Selangor had come forward to join hands to support the State Wesak Celebration.

m. Buddhist performing groups like Messengers of Dharma, i-gemz, One Voice One Melody, Persatuan Penganut Agama Buddha Bodhi KL, Pei Jie & Fo Guang San, and Mahindarama Sunday Pali School from Penang and came forward to perform in this event. Professional dance groups Dua Space Dance Theatre and The Temple of Fine Arts are also involved in the performance.

n. While Selangor had taken the lead, we hoped other state governments and the Federal Government will take cognizance and organize a state event for Wesak in the near future.

Historic Wesak Celebration in Selangor

History was created on Sunday 5th June when more than 1,200 people gathered at the Auditorium Dewan Jubli Perak, Bangunan Sultan Abdul Aziz, Shah Alam to attend the first ever Selangor State Level Wesak Celebration.

The historic moment began when the mostly Buddhists audience rise to sing the Song of the Triple Gem. It signify a breakthru for the state and the nation as the Wesak event was the first time any state or federal government had ever organized and hosted an official Wesak celebration in conjunction with Wesak Day since independence.

When the Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) Tan Sri Dato' Seri Abdul Khalid bin Ibrahim, who is a Muslim arrived to launch the event together with his wife,  he was given a rousing welcome by the audience. Accompanying him was Selangor State Assembly Speaker Dato' Teng Chang Khim, Exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah and  organizing chairman Loka Ng Sai Kai, who is also the Buddhist representative to the Selangor State non-Muslims Committee.

Others who were present during that memorable night includes senior monks from all Buddhist traditions namely Venerable Jue Cheng of Fo Guang San Malaysia, Ven. Datuk Dhammaratana Maha Thera of Buddhist Maha Vihara and Ven. Yango Rinpoche of Vajrayana Buddhist Council Malaysia, leaders from more than 45 Buddhist organization based in Selangor and president of the Malaysia Consultative Council for Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism Rev Dr. Phillips Thomas. A group of international students from nearby universities also attended the celebration.

The crowd roared with claps of approval when organizing chairman Loka Ng Sai Kai  congratulated the Selangor State Government for listening to the voices of the Buddhist community by organizing an official state celebration in honour of Wesak Day. He also urged other state governments to follow the Selangor footstep in organizing official Wesak celebration in their respective states.

Tan Sri Abdul Khalid bin Ibrahim in his speech praises the Buddhist community for their contribution through welfare, social and educational programs carried out by various Buddhist groups in the state. Khalid also shared his concern on the need of more land to build Buddhist temples to cater to the increasing number of Buddhist devotees especially in urban areas. He also proposed from next year onwards the Wesak floats procession organized by Buddhist groups in Petaling Jaya and Seri Kembangan which attracts thousands of local and foreign visitors will be inserted in the annual calendar of Tourism Selangor.

The celebration was injected with performances by some of the popular Buddhist performing groups in the country which includes Messengers of Dharma, i.gemz, Bodhi Group, One Voice One Melody and Mahindarama Sunday Pali School. Dances were presented by the internationally acclaimed Dua Space and the Temple of Fine Arts. The Fo Guang San 24 Seasons Drum Troupe also gave a splendid performance.

At the end of the celebration, Khalid and all the religious leaders joined the performers on stage to sing the Happy Wesak song. The event on Sunday night will be etched in the memory of not only the audiences present that night but also the Buddhist community as the breakthru event in the annals Buddhism in Malaysia. - Loka SK Ng

Direction to Selangor Wesak Celebration

Direction to Auditorium Dewan Jubli Perak, Bangunan SSAAS, Shah Alam for the Selangor State Level Wesak Celebration on 5 June 2011

Selangor State Level Wesak Celebration

Today is the auspicious Wesak Day and Buddhists in the State of Selangor rejoice and welcome the announcement that the State Government will be organising the official State Level Wesak Celebration in conjunction with the Buddhist community in the state. Buddhists comprises the second largest religious group in the state after Islam.

The official event will be held on 5 June 2011 at the Jubli Perak Auditorium at the State Secretariat Office in Shah Alam. A main organising committee headed by the Selangor State Assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim will organise the event with the support and cooperation of Buddhist groups in the state. - Loka SK Ng

From activist to policymaker

In early 2008 a group of leaders from Buddhist centres in Serdang, Seri Kembangan, Kinrara and Subang Jaya/USJ responded positively to my call to work together to look into the MPSJ Draft Local Plan 2020. After studying and analysing the MPSJ Draft Local Plan we managed to come out with the necessary counter proposals in respect  to the Plan. The most critical issue for the Buddhist community and other non-muslims religion was the lack of land allocated to build their respective places of worship.

In June 2009, we participated in the public hearing called by the authorities to present our views and suggestions on the MPSJ Draft Local Plan. Taking a leaf from our experience on responding to the MPSJ Draft Local Plan, we also widen our study on other draft local plans in other local authorities. So far we had also attended and given our views on behalf of  Buddhist centres all over Selangor during Draft Local Plan public hearings held by Majlis Bandaraya Petaling Jaya, Majlis Daerah Hulu Selangor, Majlis Perbandaran Selayang and Majlis Perbandaran Kajang. We are still waiting to be invited to attend public hearing of another two local councils.

In March 2008, the PKR-DAP-PAS alliance was elected by the people during the general election to set up the new government for the State of Selangor. The new state government subsequently decided to allocate some councillor seats in the local councils to non governmental organisations (NGO) and professionals. The Buddhist community took the initiative to submit some names to the state government for consideration to be appointed as local councillors. But then, as far as we know none of the Buddhist leaders was appointed but it did not stop us from continuing working closely with the state government on issues related to the non-muslims particularly the Buddhist community.

As an pro-active gesture to involved the people in the policy making process on issues related to the non-muslims community, the Pakatan Rakyat state government then re-structured and changed the name of the "Jawatankuasa Rumah Ibadat bukan Islam Negeri Selangor" to become the Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Selain Islam Negeri Selangor. Some policies changes were implemented in regards to the working and structure of this committee. Firstly the committee is now co-chaired by three State Excos while non-Muslims NGO leaders were invited to sit in the committee. Previously the State Secretary chairs the committee and no non-Muslims NGO representatives were involved in the meeting. Meetings were conducted more regularly, ie every two months in comparison to irregular meetings previously which sometimes only held once a year.

As I has been invited to the meeting since its inception, I can notice the change and seriousness of the State Excos in ensuring issues related to non-muslims community are addressed promptly and justly.We speak our mind out during these meetings but always with decorum and respect to all.  

The recent called of duty in the apppointment as councillor of the Majlis Perbandaran Subang Jaya is an honour and also a surprise to me. I am not sure if this is a signal from the state government's to recognize the Buddhist community's role towards developing a better Selangor for all. But for all who called this sunshine state our home, more than ever, we hoped the state government will do better in time to come.

The Buddhist community usually do not seek the attention of the state or federal governments either through the open forum or confrontational approaches. This community just prefers the consultative approach but it is sad and disappointing when the powers-that-be mistakenly read this soft approach as a sign that this community does not need the ears and support of the government.

Change is part and parcel for every living and non-living beings. For more than 20 years, religious and youth activism has been part of my learning process since my days as a undergraduate in Universiti Kebangsaan Malasyia. In all these years of community service, many issues related to the Buddhist community, youth development, international networking, HIV/AIDS and some other local community issues were addressed, especially when I was the then vice president of the Malaysian Youth Council and secretary general of the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia. My involvement with the World Fellowship of Buddhist Youth (WFBY) as deputy president and now advisor to the Bangkok-based international  youth organisation provided me the opportunity to enhanced international youth networking and promote friendship amongst the young people and world Buddhist leaders.

And now by virtue being appointed as a local councillor, I am now shouldering the responsiblities as a policy maker in a local authority. Although I had been involved in government level policy making process during my stint as a national youth leader, but being a councillor will be a different ball game altogether. The years spend involving in organising and attending programs, meetings, workshops and conferences in government related bodies such as the National Youth Consultative Council, Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (National Service) and Ministry of Youth and Sports are experiences that I hoped will come in handy when playing my role as a local councillor.

Although I has been advised by someone that being a councillor is similiar to what I has been doing all these years as a community leader; ie planning, advocating, assisting and serving the people, I will still continue to pray that the Triple Gem will be my guide always so that my role as a local councillor will bring positive change to those who seek for it. Namo Buddhaya. Nama Dhammaya. Namo Sanghaya. - Loka

 

Julie Tan of Loka Mitta Buddhist Fellowship; David Tan and Chua Teck Seong of Putra Heights Buddhist Society. My Dhamma friends who came to support me during the oath taking ceremony. Bro. Seow CH(not in pic) advisor of FoKuang Malaysia was also there.

The new faces in the MPSJ Council having a chit-chat with the council president Dato' Adnan.

L-R:  Loka, Edward, Dato' Adnan, Noor, Azizan, Jaberi

Photo courtesy of SJ Echo.

Can we sing the state anthem?

While waiting for the issue on the usage of the term "Allah" by the Catholic's Herald publication to be decided at the Federal Court, this sensitive matter is being discussed and debated all over. The implication that will follows whatever decision of the court goes beyond the usage of "Allah" in a Catholic newsletter. For many especially the non-Muslims, one big question is playing in their head nowadays. Can they sing some of the state anthems in this country?

A study on the lyrics of all the State anthems in Malaysia shows that States which has the term "Allah" in their anthem includes Selangor, Kedah, Perak, Johore, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. As for the Malay term "Tuhan" which means God, the word exists in the state anthems of Penang, Kuala Lumpur and Sarawak. Interestingly the term "Tuhan" is also found in Kelantan's state anthem. The States which neither have the term "Allah" or "Tuhan" is Sabah, Negri Sembilan and historical Malacca where Islam spread during the era of the Malacca Sultanate.

If the term "Allah" is exclusive only to Muslims in Malaysia, can those other than Islam sing the State anthems of Selangor, Kedah, Perak, Johore, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. On the other hand, if the Malay term "Tuhan" should be the direct translation for the term "God" used by those other than Islam as argued in the Herald case, can a Muslim sing the State anthems of Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Sarawak or even Kelantan since the word "Tuhan"  can also mean God for some religions other than Islam?

Furthermore, what about the national anthem "Negaraku" which also have the word "Tuhan" in its lyrics? What does "Tuhan" meant in the national anthem and whose "Tuhan" it refers to? Anyhow, the first principle of Rukun Negara is Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan (Belief in God) and the word "Tuhan" applies to all followers of their respective religion, which includes Islam and Christianity.

At the end of the day does it make any difference to one's faith and practice on how a person's "God"  or "Tuhan" is called? What about Buddhism then, which is not a monotheistic religion and do not adhered to the one creator God concept? Should a Buddhist skip the word "Allah" or "Tuhan" when singing or reciting the anthems and Rukun Negara? Will it developes bad karma to Buddhists who sang and recites the  word "Allah" and "Tuhan".? Surely not!

If we put so much time and effort to challenge and arguing with each other over a five letter word, will it make any difference to one's spiritual development and progress of the nation? What matters are how we should strive to live up to the teachings and practices of our own religion, which means developing the compassion and wisdom in all of us. And it is surely not by creating more tensions and negative karma for our ownselves. - Loka

Where is the land title?

Since the Pakatan Rakyat took over the Selangor state government March last year, about 70 lots of land were approved to non-Muslims to build their places of worship by the Jawatankuasa Hal Ehwal Selain Islam Negeri Selangor.

This should be welcome by all as it provides the non-Muslims more space to perform their religious obligations and study of their own religion. The reality is not what it seems to be as the actual issuance of the land title to the respective applicants has not been done yet, not even for a single piece of land approved by the committee. It seems that all the necessary paper work and documentation were collecting dust at the district land office.

After the committee approved the religious land application, the district land office are responsible to prepare the necessary documentation for the State Executive Council meeting for approval. Once the State Exco approves the application, the documentation will be reverted back to the district land office for the process of getting all the documents ready. Once it is done, the applicant will be asked to pay the nominal premium for that piece of land. After the premium is paid, the district office will take the necessary action to issue the land title to the applicant.

The delay in getting the land title issued for the non-religious groups are creating uneasy feelings amongst them. It is hope the state government will take the necessary action to buck up the land office to provide a more speedier delivery system. Any delay in issuing the land title will not be a good reflection on the performance of the state government.

The Pakatan Rakyat government wouldn't want the rakyat to think that all the current actions are done half heartedly and have to wait until the next general election for the land title to be presented in front of the press as an election gimmick! If this is really the underlying intention, what's the difference between Pakatan Rakyat with the previous government? - Loka

p/s - Even after the land title is issued, the temple/vihara/church/kuil will still have to go through another process after getting their building plans approve by all the relevant authorities which sometimes will take more than a year!

Prayers for His Highness

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah will be undergoing open heart surgery at the Stanford University Medical Centre in Palo Alto, California on May 2, 2009.

The State government had requested all Selangorians to pray for His Highness speedy recovery.

For all Buddhists who is celebrating Wesak Day next week, please remember to pray for the Sultan's good health in your daily prayers and blessing service.

Fair Policy for All

The Selangor State government will be reviewing the guidelines on building of places of worship by the non-Muslims. This was conveyed by the State Exco in charge of the non-muslims places of worship committee, Dr Xavier Jayakumar in a meeting held last week at his office in the state secretariat building.

This indeed a good news as cases of viharas, kovil and churches facing various hindrances in their development plan due to existing guidelines like restrictions on height and number of storeys, usage area for main shrine hall limited to 10,000 sq ft, land allocated under high tension wires and industrial areas etc.

Hopefully a new guidelines that reflect the freedom of religious practice, fairness and justice for all religions will prevail as the intention of our nation's constitution.