Catholic Bishop Emeritus Dr Paul Tan Chee Ing hailed Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor's counsel to religious leaders to be heralds of social unity as 'soothing balm for feelings rubbed raw by unwise executive and judicial fiat on religious issues'.

The sultan met 16 non-Muslim religious leaders who paid him a courtesy call yesterday at Istana Bukit Serene in Johor Baru during which he urged them to unite the people through cultivation of mutual respect for one another.

“My view is that it is one of the more heartening calls from a leader to religious heads to promote social unity through the cultivation of mutual respect for one another,” said Tan.