Three opposition parties - Keadilan, PRM and DAP - have called for a concerted effort by all Malaysians to promote international peace o­n the occasion of Wesak Day - a festival celebrated by Buddhists worldwide.

Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali in a joint statement said it is vital to bring to mind the importance of Wesak within the Buddhist religion to all other races and religion devotees "in our current times of turmoil and unease".

More civil society

"The teachings of Buddha - the eight truths - which include doing, believing, thinking, the right things among other truths to become a more civil society.

"In these times of post war and relative instability we must adhere to these basic rules in order to achieve justice and peace not o­nly here in Malaysia but also all over the world," they said.

The two presidents added that the teachings of Buddha to overcome the rigidness and discrimination of the caste system in India is playing an important role in today's society as well..

"Today His teachings play an even more important role in our society as there exists obvious discrimination against the poor," they said.

Understand teachings

DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang in a separate statement said religious festivities such as Wesak should be occasions for Malaysians to strengthen multi-religious Malaysia's credentials.

He said such festivities should be a bridge between religions and civilisations as an unique contribution to international peace and understanding.

"There should be a concerted effort for Malaysians, whether Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Hindus or Sikhs to understand the true teachings of other religions," he said.

Lim suggested that a Malaysian inter-religious council be formed by an act of Parliament to promote inter-religious understanding in schools, universities and all spheres of public life.

Wesak Day marks the annual celebration of the birth, enlightenment and death of Buddha.