Najib (centre) shows his multi-cultural credentials at the recent MIC general assembly
Datuk Seri Najib Razak told foreign diplomats here tonight that he was committed to promoting Malaysia as a model Islamic country with multicultural tolerance.
The prime minister stressed that Malaysia could still be a symbol of Islam and tolerance in the world because of the country’s multi-religious make-up.
His remarks tonight come amid concerns about the heightening levels of religious intolerance in past months.
Recent incidents such as the brandishing of a cow’s head by Muslims protesting against a Hindu temple and the sentencing of a Malay-Muslim woman to caning for consuming beer had sparked an outcry.
The incidents have placed the country under the spotlight over the encroachment of Islamic fundamentalism into the broader, secular Malaysian society.
“There is a special niche that we have which is to promote a better understanding of what Islam is all about and our belief that inter-faith dialogue is a very important part of promoting greater understanding,” he told foreign dignitaries at a breaking of fast function organised by the Foreign Ministry.
He added that being fair to Muslims and non-Muslims alike was not a matter of choice but was “God’s calling.”
“In the Quran, God tells us that for us to be closer to God, we have to be fair,” he said.
Najib also explained that tolerance was enshrined in the concept of 1 Malaysia, which asks Malaysians to fair and just to all.
“If all of us, all Malaysians join together, whether Muslims or non-Muslims, then this concept of togetherness as one creed, one people, one Malaysia will propel us to greater heights and prestige,” he said.
A group, claiming to be Muslim residents of Section 23 in Shah Alam, the new site of a Hindu temple, held a demonstration outside the Selangor state secretariat recently, dragging a severed cow-head, — an animal sacred in Hinduism — which they stomped on and spat at under the gaze of riot police.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein initially defended and justified the cow-head demonstration after meeting with Malay-Muslim representatives of Shah Alam’s Section 23 at his office but changed his stand after he came under heavy criticism from Pakatan Rakyat and the public.
In a second incident, Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was caught drinking beer in Cherating, Pahang, two years ago.
The mother of two was fined RM5,000 and sentenced to six lashes of the rotan. She refused to file an appeal.
Kartika will be the first woman to be sentenced to caning under the country’s Islamic laws.
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Sure - ask your Minister to behave himself. You cannot condone a group of people and when the pressure heats up, ask authorities to take action. It is purely indecisive and cold to put everyone through this. After all, 1Malaysia is about 1 nation. What the minister has done is clearly unMalaysian, unpatriotic and demeaning to all parties involved in this issue. It shows insensitivities on the govt's part for doing that. sickening!
Symbol or Shame to the world : Kartika whip sentence & Shah Alam bloody Cow's head ?!!
The fact that it took more than a week to come out with charges ... Bias & Double Standards !!!!
SATU... DUA ... TIGA.... TANGKAP....
It took only 3 seconds for PDRM to arrest, man-handle & lockup overnite our peaceful candlelight vigil participants !!!!
MCMC desperate action of trying to remove video evidence recorded by Malaysiakini confirmed UMNO BN ill intentions !!!
http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/112670
Never in the our history an elite UMNO warlords got jailed !!! Only those sidelined UMNO leaders convicted with jail term !!!
Did Malacca CM Ali Rustam found guilty of Money Politics by the most corrupted Party charged or jailed ?!! NEVER !!!
Did Selangor Toyo with his RM26million lavish mansion, Middle East investments & family Disney tours being investigated or charged ?!! NEVER !!!
Did it make any sense that 2 special branch police intended to blowup a Mongolia for no particular reasons ?!! NO !!!
Did AG appeal against the aqquitance of Abdul Razak Bagainda of Altantuya murder ?!! NEVER !!!
Did the court made fair jugdement in Perak Constitutional Crisis ?!! NO !!!
Government machinery are all serving as a tool for UMNO BN !!!
From executive to judiciary's CJ Zaki Azmi, AG, Police IGP, MACC, EC, MCMC and even exploiting the Monarchy, UMNO held it all from top to bottom & inside out!!!
UMNO shall put enough hurdle to stop any warlord from going to jail !!!!
those guilty shall be acquitted by the court... if not
those guilty shall win their appeal at a higher court...if not
those guilty shall only be fine but not jailed...if not
those guilty shall get royal pardon as a last resort....
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