YANG di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin yesterday advised Malay-sians to practise moderation in their everyday lives.
He said social moderation referred to doing things in a wise manner, not acting recklessly and not oppressing others.
"In other words, we should not make an issue out of small misunderstandings, but should instead resolve them in the best possible ways," he said at the opening of the 1433 Maal Hijrah national-level celebration at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
Present were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and wife Puan Sri Noorainee Abdul Rahman as well as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
This year's Maal Hijrah theme is "Mutual Understanding the Foundation for Unity of the Community".
In expressing his concerns over an increasingly individualistic society, the king said he hoped neighbourliness and togetherness would prevail.
"The culture of greeting each other has started to be abandoned. Worse, the benefits of neighbourliness are being ignored.
"I hope the spirit of neighbourliness will flourish again in our society so that everyday life can be experienced harmoniously."
Tuanku Mizan said love and respect for each other had to be nurtured at home, pointing out that the practice of "yang tua dihormati, yang muda dikasihi" (respect the old, love the young) would create a loving society.
He said togetherness was important for all members of society to form an understanding of one another, allowing any squabble to be settled amicably. "This is the beginning of unity in any society."
Tuanku Mizan said Malaysians should realise that the country's harmony was closely related to the unity of the various communities.
"There is no way peace can be maintained in a chaotic society. I call on everyone to plant in our hearts a love for our country like we love our family.
"The concept of Negaraku Rumahku; Rumahku Syurgaku (My Country My Home, My Home My Heaven) should be embedded in all Malaysians."
The king also called on everyone to appreciate the Maal Hijrah theme this year so that the harmony enjoyed all this while can be inherited by the next generation.
"Only with understanding and respect for each other can we create a united community."
