On 5 September 2010, say sorry to seek forgiveness from and grant it to each other. Share your experiences, stories or images/videos on the Say Sorry Day Facebook page, or on Twitter using the #iamsorry hashtag.
Also come check out a forum and a performance at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market on this Friday and Saturday in conjunction with the Say Sorry Day campaign.
When we do wrong – whether intentionally or not – we cause hurt both to ourselves and others. Saying sorry is taking the first step in the healing process for both parties.
A collective of individuals and organisations have come together to declare
5 September 2010 as Say Sorry Day.
Everyone – in Malaysia and beyond – is encouraged on this day to seek forgiveness from and grant it to each other. That this is the holy month of Ramadhan makes Say Sorry Day even more significant, as Hari Raya Aidilfitri – held to celebrate the end of the fasting month – is deeply associated with the spirit of apologising and forgiveness.
However, this spirit is not just embraced by our Muslim brothers and sisters; it is also universally acknowledged and encouraged by all major spiritual traditions.
The inspiration for Say Sorry Day is a young Malaysian, Yong Vui Kong, who was only 18 when he was arrested for drug trafficking in Singapore. He is currently appealing for clemency, but he may still be hanged and not get a chance to redeem his wrongs.
Many Malaysians and Singaporeans have campaigned for him to be granted a second chance because they believe in forgiveness. Vui Kong has apologised and hopes to be given the chance to share his life lessons with others and help Singapore fight the drug barons.
His situation is extreme, and many people may not find themselves in the same situation. However, we all need forgiveness because we all do wrong; as the saying goes, “to err is human.”
Whether our transgressions are significant or minute, we all need forgiveness – sometimes we need to seek it, and other times we need to give it. It is this seeking and giving that frees us.
Say Sorry Day is a joint initiative between the Annexe Gallery, Council of Churches of Malaysia Youth, Islamic Renaissance Front, the Save Vui Kong Campaign and the Young Buddhist Association of Malaysia.
The Annexe Gallery, Central Market Annexe will be hosting two events this week in conjuction with Say Sorry Day. Admission is free. Click on the links for more information on these events or visit www.annexegallery.com
SPEAKERS
WHEN GOVERNMENTS SAY SORRY by Ambiga Sreenevasan
WHEN CORPORATIONS SAY SORRY by Sreedhar Subramaniam
WHEN COMMUNITIES SAY SORRY by Edry Faizal Eddy Yusof
WHEN INDIVIDUALS SAY SORRY by Leow Puay Tin
PERFORMERS
AMIR MUHAMMAD, critically-acclaimed filmmaker-writer, shares a montage of clips from old Malay movies featured in his new book 120 Malay Movies.
ANNE JAMES & JO KUKATHAS, award-winning theatre actors, re-enact a scene from the play Cuckoo Birds.
BRIAN GOMEZ, writer (Devil’s Place, What Do Gay People Eat?), reads from his new short story, written for specially for the occasion.
HISHAMMUDIN RAIS, non-governmental individual, writer and former ISA detainee, does his infamous stand-up routine.
I-SOUL, Chinese-language band, offer us acoustic songs on the theme.
LIYANA FIZI, popular singer-songwriter, sings apologetic original songs.
PANG KHEE TEIK, Annexe Gallery arts programme director, just wants to say sorry to everyone.
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