KUALA LUMPUR: Every Malaysian should embrace the spirit of forgiveness and also be magnanimous in accepting sincere apologies, Malaysia Unity Foundation trustee Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye said.
Lee added that it was important to remind each other of such good values for the sake of the country and interracial unity.
"I believe there is nothing wrong with saying sorry. Everyone makes mistakes in life but we must be able to realise our faults and make sincere apology for them.
"And it is incumbent on the other party to accept the apology. Doing this will make you generous and magnanimous. This is something which every Malaysian should embrace," he said in a statement today.
Lee was responding to a call by civil society groups, who had called on the people to take the practice of seeking and offering forgiveness to the next level through a movement called Maaf Zahir Batin Hari-Hari or #MZB365.
The movement, he said, was a step in the right direction, particularly in light of recent incidents which had caused public concern over issues related to interracial and interreligious harmony.
"All this must be guided by the principles of the Rukun Negara and aspects of moderation for the sake of harmony and lasting peace in our country."
Lee, who is also a National Unity Advisory Council member, said it was also important for Malaysians to show mutual respect to one another, and do the right thing towards unifying the nation.
"In the spirit of muhibbah (goodwill), let's give this initiative a try, and be committed to it."
The #MZB365 campaign is an effort by 13 non-governmental organisations, who have joined forces to get people to overcome hate speech and provocation.
They said the practice of seeking and giving forgiveness should be an all-year affair, and not limited to Hari Raya Aidilfitri or Ramadan.
NGOs in the movement include Projek Sama, Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, the G25 group, Architect of Diversity, Muslim Professional Forum and Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs.
Others are Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia, Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs, Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan, Pure Life Society, Buddhist Missionary Society Malay-sia and Gerakan Belia Sepunjabi Malaysia.