Luala Lumpur, Malaysia - Silent tears of love and affection were shed by the family members and close friends of five Malaysian personalities and a Filipino leader whose lives were celebrated at a Legacy of Peace program in Kuala Lumpur on July 11.
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Honored on the occasion were:
- Allahyarhamah Tan Sri Paduka Dr. Hj Saleha Bte Mohd Ali, Patron of UPF-Malaysia and Chancellor of Help University
- Dr. John Gurusamy, Chairman of Malaysians for World Peace and Council Member of UPF-Malaysia
- Allahyarhamah Datuk Illani Isahak, Chairman of the Working Committee of Inter-Religious Relations of the National Unity Department
- Kirpal Singh Gill, Founder-Chairman of the Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship and author of VCM – A Spontaneous Experience in Super Consciousness
- Allahyarhamah Mumtaz Malik, Chair of UPF-Malaysia Johor Chapter and Founder-Chairman of Sihat NGO for International Youth Welfare
- Rev. Rolando Basuil, Secretary General of UPF-Philippines and Chair of the International Peace Leadership College in the Philippines
Interfaith prayers from six religious traditions set the spirit of “One Malaysia” that filled the Multipurpose Hall of the Pure Life Society, which provided the venue for the memorial festival organized by UPF-Malaysia.
The Legacy of Peace program, also called a Memorial Festival of Ascension and Unity, commemorates and celebrates the life and work of notable Ambassadors for Peace in a series that began at the United Nations in New York, USA, in March 2010. At the UN event, the Founder of UPF explained the meaning and purpose of holding Legacy of Peace programs. “The moment we enter the spirit world,” Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon explained, “is the time that we enter a world of joy and victory with the fruits born of our lives on earth. It is a time for those of us remaining on earth to send off the departed with tears of joy.”
The Kuala Lumpur event was the second, with the first held in June 2010, when three Malaysian iconic leaders were honored. “The two occasions have been deeply moving experiences,” said Tan Sri Dr. Devaki Krishnan, President of UPF-Malaysia and Chair of the organizing committee, reflecting back on the latest and previous programs. In her welcome address she thanked the Pure Life Society and its spiritual and cultural subcommittee known as the Interfaith Spiritual Fellowship for their sponsorship and use of facilities. She also thanked the Women for Family Welfare Promotion, Buddhist Maha Vihara, Malaysia Hindu Sangam, and the Temple of Fine Arts for their support.
Memorial citations were read, after which flower tributes were placed before pictures of the honorees.
In her closing address, Pure Life Society President Datin Paduka Mother Mangalam paid glowing tributes to all the six honorees, most of whom she had known personally. UPF-Malaysia Secretary General Rev. Sam Yeoh also read a message from UPF-Asia Regional Director Dr. Chung Sik Yong.
At the end of the program, all guests were treated to vegetarian refreshments, courtesy of the Pure Life Society.