Speak out against extremism, Najib urges moderates
By Wong Chun Wai, The Star
NEW YORK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak made his call for moderation the thrust of his maiden speech at the United Nations General Assembly, saying it is time for moderates to reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism.
He said there was a need to marginalise the extremists, saying a “global movement of the moderates” of all faiths was needed to work together to make this a success.
These extremists, he added, had held the world hostage with their bigotry and bias, adding that “we must choose moderation over extremism”.
“We must, and I repeat, we must urgently reclaim the centre and the moral high ground that has been usurped from us.
“We must choose negotiations over confrontation. We must choose to work together and not against each other. And we must give this effort utmost priority for time is not on our side.”
Malaysia, he reiterated, was concerned with the increasing trend in some parts of the world to perpetuate or even fuel Islamophobia.
“Attempts to demonise Islam offend the one-and-a-half billion adherents of the religion. It intensifies the divide between the broad Muslim world and the West,’’ he said.
Najib said the real issue “is not between Muslims and non-Muslims but between the moderates and extremists of all religions, be it Islam, Christianity or Judaism.”
“Across all religions, we have inadvertently allowed the ugly voices of the periphery to drown out the many voices of reason and common sense.”
He commended a group of American Evangelical Christians who had worked tirelessly to prevent the threatened burning of the Quran with the compelling argument that such an act was un-Christian.
“This is a clear example of what can be achieved when moderates in each faith stand up to the extremists who are trying to hijack the universal values of our religions.”
He also commended President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for affirming the rights of supporters of the Cordoba House, which would include a mosque and a multi-faith community centre, to be located near the site of the World Trade Centre.
“We must support the objectives of the Cordoba Initiative, an organisation that focuses on promoting peace, understanding and moderation, both between Muslims and non-Muslims and within the Muslim communities.”
Najib also shared with other heads of government at the United Nations that “although Islam is the official religion (in Malaysia), we honour other religions – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism – by making their religious and cultural celebrations national holidays and celebrate them as national events.”
“It is this equilibrium that leads to moderation or wasatiyyah in the Islamic tradition of mutual peace.”
Malaysia, he added, was well poised to play its part in promoting understanding, given its geographical position.
“To further strengthen our process of national unity, I have introduced a philosophy known as 1Malaysia … a vision that seeks renewal and rejuvenation to bring all people together in a just and harmonious relationship.
“1Malaysia calls for the acceptance of diversity as a source of greater unity.
“We seek to celebrate our multi-ethnic and multi-religious society for strategic strength and harmony,” he said.
