THE PENANG INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY 2019

SPEECH BY THE CHIEF MINISTER YAB TUAN CHOW KON YEOW FOR THE PENANG INTERNATIONAL YOGA DAY 2019

23 June 2019, Youth Park

A very good morning to all of you.

On behalf of the Penang State Government, it gives me great pleasure to welcome all of you here today for the Penang International Yoga Day 2019. Penang is proud to be a part of this worthwhile event as we host our 2nd International Yoga Day in conjunction with the annual celebration of the International Yoga Day which is celebrated throughout the world on the 21st of June every year since its inception in 2015. Its very purpose is to spread awareness about the importance and effects of yoga on the health of those who practise it.

Yoga which is being practised in various forms around the world is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual cultivation which gives calmness, peace, confidence and courage to its practitioners which will then enable them to carry out their daily activities more effectively and efficiently.

Yoga is, more often than not, being miscomprehended as a religion. This ancient practice, however, has nothing to do with one’s religious faith but it is actually a way of living that aims towards attaining a healthy mind in a healthy body. Man is a physical, mental and spiritual being and yoga helps to promote a balanced development of all these three.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In this current era we live in, the new era of rapid development, comes with positive and negative effects on each and every one of us. As our physical environment is constantly changing and the world is becoming more competitive, we being mere mortals have to adapt to the changes which can be very physically, mentally, and even emotionally demanding.

Given these circumstances, what can be more helpful to us in coping with the daily vicissitudes of life than practising yoga itself? Yoga is, indisputably, an exhaustive way to help us to deal with such challenging environment conditions but it certainly nurtures one’s mind, soul and physique after a period of practice.

A strong mental and physical health will enable an individual to remain competent as well as leading him or her towards a happier and wholesome lifestyle. This will certainly be a pivotal boost towards one of the Penang State Government’s main goal which is to achieve a good happiness index for all Penangites through the Penang2030 vision.

It is important and extremely valuable for the State Government to have our people competent, healthy and happy as it helps to boost the state further, adding to a greater benefit for our people because ultimately, happy individuals will result in a happier society as a whole.

We, as the Penang State Government, will continue our effort to support such events that promote the awareness on health and the well-being of Penangites. I hope that what we are doing today and for every subsequent International Yoga Day will eventually enlighten each and every one on the importance and effects of yoga in our life so that we can all embark on the journey towards a healthier and happier life. 

Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate the organising chairman Mr N.S. Thanabalan and the committee members of the Malaysia Hindu Dharma Mamandram (MHDM) for successfully organising the 2nd Penang International Yoga Day. I wish all of you greater success in your upcoming efforts to move forward in these modern times and expand your community services even further.

Thank you and looking forward for the 3rd Penang International Day.

Let us all make yoga a part of our lives!