Rais: Hold more interfaith dialogues to foster harmony

KUALA LUMPUR: More dialogues and seminars pertaining to race and religious relations should be organised to foster harmony and prevent conflicts among the country's multiracial and multireligious society.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) president, Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim said dialogues involving community and religious leaders could create better understanding of communal and religious issues and hence, helped to strengthen relations.
"Besides that, they also need to study and translate religious principles towards fostering harmony and mutual respect through such dialogue programmes." Rais, who is also socio-cultural adviser to the government, said this to reporters after opening the Fourth International Seminar on Interfaith Harmony and Tolerance 2015 at IIUM, near here, today.
He said the social media could serve as a platform to discuss differences that arose due to racial and religious misunderstanding, whether at the national or international level.
"The social media should play a role in fostering understanding, peace and love between the different races and in enhancing understanding of the principle of respecting the religions and culture of others," he added.
The two-day seminar which ends tomorrow is being attended by 250 participants from 14 countries including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, Turkey, Brunei Darussalam and United Arab Emirates. – Bernama