YWF Malaysia organizer Dr. Amirul Haikal is embarking on a tour of spiritual and religious sites to foster unity and cross-cultural understanding in Malaysia and across the globe. This initiative called the 'One World Project', is supported by YWF Members who voted to allocate approximately $600 USD to the tour.
On 17 August 2024, Amirul visited the Hong Men Lian Yi Welfare Association headquarters in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. The Hong Men Lian Yi promotes community welfare, unity, and Chinese culture in Malaysia. Amirul received an invitation from Hong Men Lian Yi to experience traditional Taoist and Buddhist culture during the ‘Hungry Ghost’ festival, in conjunction with the ‘Ghost Moon’. This festival is celebrated in the seventh month of the Chinese calendar annually. Members of Hong Men Lian Yi warmly welcomed Amirul.
The Hungry Ghost Festival, also known as Zhongyuan or YulanPen, is a traditional celebration observed by Taoist and Buddhist communities across East and Southeast Asia. It is a manifestation of the respect and love that Taoists and Buddhists have for their parents and ancestors, expressed by practices that are believed to calm their spirits. During this ghost month, it is thought that the door to the supernatural world opens, allowing spirits of the deceased, including ghosts, to be released and roam the world. In this celebration, the living are expected to provide offerings such as food, money, daily necessities, and other items for the spirits. For the members of Hong Men Lian Yi, offerings like food, candles, money, and prayer paper are presented to honour the ancestors, particularly the former members of the community.
In addition to observing this tradition, Amirul also spoke about the unity of humanity and Malaysians across ethnicities and religions. He presented a wooden plaque as a special memento for the One World Project to the representative of Hong Men Lian Yi, Apeng Gor (Big Brother Apeng). Apeng Gor shared some historical context about the community and the unity among various ethnicities and religions practised by members today. While the Chinese community is a significant part of the association, people from other ethnic backgrounds — such as Malays, Indians, Kadazandusun, Bajau, and others — as well as adherents of different faiths, are encouraged to join Hong Men Lian Yi. The aim is to demonstrate to Malaysians that a diverse community can be unified, free from discrimination, and live harmoniously. Within Hong Men Lian Yi, treating fellow members like family is a core principle, which serves as the foundation for unity among different ethnicities and religions. "Embracing and understanding the cultures of other communities is one of the keys to achieving unity on this Earth," Amirul noted after the meeting, "Open your heart and think with an inclusive and healthy mind."
