Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia 2009

Dear friends,
A few friends met up some days ago and in talking about events that have happened in the country in the past year, came up with this idea: what if on Malaysia Day we all fast for peace for our nation? The idea grew into a plan and now, it has become a nationwide call for action.

"Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia" is our response to this call. Please read below and join us:

Malaysia is a peaceful country and it should remain that way forever. Acts of Violence and inciting hatred must have no place in our public life.

Unfortunately, too many cruelties and injustices have happened since the nation’s last birthday.

It is tempting to slip into despair or become revengeful. Let us turn our anger and sadness into a positive force for change.

This September 16, let us all combine our efforts to present a meaningful gift for Malaysia on her 46th birthday.

Let us be united in one single action. Let us all fast from dawn to dusk for peace in this blessed land. Let the Muslims amongst us fast with a specific prayer for peace for the nation. Let the Bahais, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus, Sikhs, Taoists, followers of other spiritual traditions and atheists amongst us fast in solidarity and the same determination for peace.

Let our common experience of hunger and human weakness humble, strengthen and unite us.

Let us offer a hospitable smile to people we know and especially to those we don’t.

Let us perform one extra act of kindness while fasting on this Malaysia day.

Let us show our love and compassion for each other.

Let Malaysia be a better country on her 46th birthday and every day after.

Let Malaysia be truly happy and peaceful this September 16.

And so we fast.
. . . . . . to make room for justice and peace!

Things you can do and How do you join?:

1. Sign up.
- e-mail your pledge to fast on Sept 16, 2009, to: peace4malaysia09@gmail.com.
or SMS to 016-9707966
or leave a comment at http://peace4msia.blogspot.com/
(If you want, you may include your age and location)
or sign the petition here http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/peace4msia/

2. Forward this e-mail to your circle of friends, family and colleagues. Please try to get your friends and family from outside the Klang Valley to sign up as well

3. Come to the press conference to announce this initiative: Friday, 11am, Sept 11, 2009, at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

4. Break fast (or have the pre-fast meal) together wherever your location is and send pics and caption to: peace4malaysia09@gmail.com

Here are the standard recommendations which you may modify according to your preferences, medical conditions and other circumstances.

• Get a group of at least three people.

• Have your pre-fast meal together before dawn (e.g. before 5.35am for Muslims*). The meal is preferably vegetarian to be inclusive to all.

• Carry out your daily duties and tasks as usual.

• Smile and do an extra act of kindness to people around you or afar.

• Share your message of peace with every curious person.

• Break your fast together after dusk(e.g. after 7.25 pm for Muslims*). The meal is preferably vegetarian to be inclusive to all.

• Share your experience, feeling and thought in this national fasting exercise with more people, in every possible way.

Plotting goodness with friends,
Sivin Kit
On behalf of
"Fast for the Nation, Peace for the Nation 2009" Core Group

11 comments:

  1. Thank you for thinking up of this very positive and concrete step to take for our country. Just yesterday morning, as I reflected on the recent happenings around our country, including the injustices dumped onto the Penan, and looked at the Jalur Gemilang fluttering in the breeze on its post at my gate, I asked this question of myself: What can I do to change things? The answer arrived via your email. I shall be joining you and all like-minded Malaysians to fast, pray, and do good works on September 16. God bless our endeavour.

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  2. Let us all say this prayer together on Malaysia Day...

    PEACE PRAYER by St Francis of Assisi

    God, make me an instrument of your peace.

    Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
    Where there is injury, pardon;
    Where there is doubt, faith;
    Where there is despair, hope;
    Where there is darkness, light;
    Where there is sadness, joy.

    O, divine Master, grant that
    I may not so much seek
    to be consoled as to console,
    to be understood as to understand,
    to be loved as to love.

    For it is in giving that we receive,
    It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
    and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

    Amen.

    Peace be with you and may God bless Malaysia,

    Pat Lu,
    With love from Pahlawan Volunteers
    "Negara kita, Tanggungjawab Kita"
    - From Conviction to Action

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  3. Regina - for your encouragement. Every act of kindness and step for change counts!

    Pat - good to know you are on board!

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  4. I will fast on this day September 16 2009. And will continue to do the same every year

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  5. Great! Wonderful to know there are few really wonderful human being around. Let us all pray and fast on 16th Sept. to show solidarity among peace loving Malaysians. Thank you Marina for initiating oneness among Malaysians.
    S.Ganesan

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  6. Hello guys..
    Well what can I say? A great idea from the gems of Malaysia. I represent a group of about 10 Malaysians (and growing!) from Universiti Utara Malaysia, Kedah and we are certainly joining you guys in fasting on Malaysia Day. We'll send you the pictures after the event. Thank you for initiating this, and God bless all Malaysians! The details are as follows:

    Representative: Joel Gurprit Singh
    Venue for Breaking-Fast : Subaidah Nasi Kandar, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Sintok, Kedah.

    If anyone is up north on the 16th, please do join us!!

    Warmest regards,
    Joel

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  7. Kudos to the organisers (Marina is only one of the them, Ganesan, who was instrumental in bringing the other celebrities in).

    - siew eng

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  8. A promising idea. This should bridge the gap that seems to widen slowly but surely amongst us Malaysians reently. I will fast.All the best. God bless
    Padma

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  9. I simply love Malaysia and have lived here for 51 years. Read my blog for my perspective of this wonderful country : http://familylane.blogspot.com/2007/08/merdeka-or-indpendence-day.html

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