A cordial year-end gathering of members and associates of Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Malaysia and Women’s Federation for World Peace Malaysia was held on 20 December 2023 at the Peace Embassy.
President of UPF Malaysia, Asst Prof Sudesh Balasubramaniam, delivered a warm welcoming speech, expressing his appreciation for the 70 guests for their ongoing support for the association.
Present at the gathering was special guest – Mdm Fauzia Annie Andanar, Special Assistant to former President of Philippines and Ambassador for Peace.
In a sharing session on the topic “Harmony in diversity – nurturing peace in a Globalized World”, moderated by Mr Joachim Ng, Vice President of UPF Malaysia, Mdm Annie shared her vast knowledge and experience as a peacebuilder transcending national borders.
“World peace begins with a commitment to introspection, a willingness to question our biases, and an openness to engage with perspectives that may differ from ours. True harmony is not the absence of differences but the ability to navigate them gracefully and respectfully.”
Mdm Annie also highlighted the importance of embracing diversity and practising inclusivity in protecting the rights of marginalized groups as well as gender equality.
A token of appreciation was presented to Mdm Annie by Mdm Lina Cheng, President of WFWP Malaysia at the end of the session.
Also, Mr Lai Peng Keong, Secretary General of UPF Malaysia, informed the participants on an upcoming fundraising initiative in May 2024 in support of several local community-building projects.
Datuk Muhammad Nasir Hamzah, Member of Board of Advisors of UPF Malaysia, in his closing remarks, urged all leaders to unite together to address national issues including corruption and security threats posed by illegal immigration in order to build a peaceful society.
