COMMENT | At the outset, let me declare that I am not a Christian – our family has always been ancestor worshippers and I would also describe myself as an animist and a humanist.

As a parent and a social activist, I have always upheld unconditional love and mutual respect as the basis for human and intercultural understanding. Thus, I am more concerned with the capacity for unconditional love and mutual respect that we show toward others of different faiths. Unconditional love precludes any attempts at converting others to our creed.

This was my first impression of Cardinal Anthony Soter Fernandez when I saw him at public meetings during the 1980s and it became a lasting impact of a man who believed in truth and justice and was a model of unconditional love.

I could sense his sincerity and genuine mutual respect for people of different faiths. Although he was already Archbishop, he struck me as a most humble man without an ounce of haughtiness about him. There were three distinct episodes in Cardinal Soter’s life which left an indelible mark on me.

1. Leading the MCCBCHS against Religious Intolerance

My first contact with Cardinal Soter was during the formation of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Sikhism (MCCBCHS) in 1983, dedicated to promoting goodwill, harmony, and unity amongst all Malaysians irrespective of creed, religion, race, culture, or gender...