KUALA LUMPUR: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, the Queen of Malaysia, highlighted the “warmth and acceptance” of Malaysians, adding that the nation’s greatest asset lies not in its military or architecture, but in its profound respect for diversity.
In a personal reflection on her blog on Feb 14, Raja Zarith pointed out that Malaysia’s “special” nature is best seen in the everyday coexistence of its citizens.
She noted that Malaysians are uniquely accustomed to a media landscape where festivals such as Hari Raya, Lunar New Year, and Deepavali are given equal national prominence. Comparing this to her experiences abroad, the Queen pointed out that in many Western nations, festive celebrations often remain singular, rarely highlighting the specific traditions of minority communities on a national scale.
“We are so used to these symbols of different festivals which are celebrated that we do not find them strange or unfamiliar,” wrote Raja Zarith, referring to the seamless integration of cultural symbols like Christmas decorations and Chinese lanterns in public spaces.
Addressing the global perception of Malaysia as a Muslim-majority nation, Her Majesty referenced the experiences of tourists and expatriates. She noted that while some visitors arrive with trepidation, they are often “pleasantly surprised” by the sight of shoppers in hijabs comfortably navigating malls filled with Christmas trees and carols.
“It took the comments made by these tourists to make me realise that we Malaysians have grown up to accept our ethnic differences and our different faiths,” Her Majesty wrote.
The Queen’s remarks followed a recent visit to two low-cost housing flats, where she witnessed firsthand the organic unity of the residents. She described a “medley” of greetings — ranging from “Xin Nian Kuai Le” to “Assalamualaikum” — as a testament to a society that prioritises human connection over ethnic labels.
“We may not have the largest army, or cities filled with skyscrapers (besides Kuala Lumpur), but we have the warmest smiles and hearts filled with acceptance and respect for each other, regardless of our faiths or ethnicities,” she stated.
Raja Zarith concluded with a message of inclusivity, offering blessings to both her “fellow Muslims” ahead of Ramadan, and her “fellow Malaysians” celebrating the Lunar New Year.
“To my fellow Muslims, I wish you Salam Ramadan and Selamat Berpuasa! To my fellow Malaysians who are celebrating Chinese New Year, I wish you a happy time with your families and friends!”
Main image: Istana Negara
