Ever since the fifth century B.C., the Buddha has been the Light of Asia, a spiritual teacher whose sublime personality has given birth to a whole civilization guided by lofty ethical and humanitarian ideals, to a vibrant spiritual tradition that has ennobled the lives of millions with a vision of man's highest potentials
The message of the Buddha is timeless and relevant today as it was 2500 years ago.
2001 is the United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations for all countries, governments, international organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to promote the concept of inter-civilizational dialogue.
DAP calls on the Cabinet on Wednesday to mark the double commemoration of the 2001 Wesak and the UN Year of Inter-Civilizational Dialogue by announcing that Malaysia is prepared to make a distinctive contribution to foster inter-civilisational communication and build the bridges to foster mutual understanding among the different civilisations by being the home to the highest seats of learning for the different great religions to be found in the country - that Malaysia will not only have an International Islamic University, but also welcomes the establishment of an International Buddhist University, International Christian University and International Hindu University.
In this manner, Malaysia may become the first nation in the world to have the highest seats of learning of all the great religions in one country - a distinction which is more meaningful than having the tallest, longest or biggest structure in the world.
(6/5/2001)