Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang was the guest of honour at the inauguration of the surau at the embassy today.
This was the first time that the surau was being built at the embassy ground since the embassy was set up in 1959.
Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia, J.Eduardo Malaya said the construction of the surau was the embassy's effort to address the needs of its employees, to promote inclusiveness and understanding among followers of different faiths.
"We have Muslim personnel both from the Philippines as well as Malaysians working at the embassy, and one of the things I did since five years ago was to try and see if the requirement of our Muslim personnel in doing the prayer could be addressed.
"So our (embassy's) earlier plan was to make a certain part of our conference room into a mini prayer area. I placed a Kiblat mark and a prayer mat," he told Bernama.
Malaya, who concludes his five-and-a-half year diplomatic stint today said he discussed with the Filipino Muslim community in Malaysia and they agreed to have the formal surau that was inaugurated today.
He said the surau also symbolized the country's readiness to host Muslim tourists.
There was also an increasing number of businesses and offices in the Philippines now that had Muslim prayer areas, he said.
"There are some five million Muslim Fillipinos, most of whom reside in the southern Philippines," he said.
At the ceremony, Datuk Seri Azman gave a speech recalling attending a press conference by President Ferdinand Marcos in Labuan in 1977 and his interview with President Fidel Ramos in Malacanang Palace in 1997.
"Two days earlier at the Asean Summit in KL, Marcos dropped a bombshell by announcing that the Philippines will drop its claim on Sabah.
"I asked him what steps he would take next.
"He outlined a series of steps at the PC in Labuan on a stopover on his way back home from the summit.
"Twenty years later I had an exclusive interview with President Fidel Ramos for an anniversary book published by Bernama.
"Two pictures of my interview taken by Ramos's aide are hung on my office wall," said Datuk Seri Azman.
At the ceremony, Datuk Seri Azman gave a speech recalling attending a press conference by President Ferdinand Marcos in Labuan in 1977 and his interview with President Fidel Ramos in Malacanang Palace in 1997.
"Two days earlier at the Asean Summit in KL, Marcos dropped a bombshell by announcing that the Philippines will drop its claim on Sabah.
"I asked him what steps he would take next.
"He outlined a series of steps at the PC in Labuan on a stopover on his way back home from the summit.
"Twenty years later I had an exclusive interview with President Fidel Ramos for an anniversary book published by Bernama.
"Two pictures of my interview taken by Ramos's aide are hung on my office wall," said Datuk Seri Azman.
-- BERNAMA
No comments:
Post a Comment