Datuk Seri Najib Razak took his call for moderation to the United Nation’s General Assembly here today, saying it was time for moderates to reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism.
In his maiden speech at the UN, the prime minister said there was a need to marginalise the extremists, and the “global movement of the moderates” of all faiths was needed to work together to make this a success.
Najib (picture) said these extremists 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,” the prime minister was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.
His speech came as the government’s controversial National Civics Bureau (BTN) had a closed-door session with Puteri Umno, casting racial epithets at the Chinese and Indian communities in the country.
Najib also said Malaysia 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.
The prime minister 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.”
The world, he said, must chose to work together and not against each other, “and we must give this effort utmost priority.”
He commended a group of American Evangelical Christians who worked tirelessly to prevent the threatened burning of the Quran with the compelling argument that it was unChristian to burn the Quran.
“This is a clear example of what can be achieved when moderates in each faith stand up to the extremists that are trying to hijack the universal values of our religions.”
Najib 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 Center.
“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.”
He also shared with other heads of government at the UN that “although Islam is the official religion (in Malaysia), we honour other religions — Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism — by making their religious and cultural celebrations as 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,” he added.
Najib said the country 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 1 Malaysia. 1 Malaysia is a vision that seeks renewal and rejuvenation to bring all people together in a just and harmonious relationship.
“1 Malaysia 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,” the prime minister said.
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...shameless hypocrite of a leader who tak malu and thicked skin !!...talk big in UN but doesnt practice what he preach in his own backyard (country ) ! what are you going to say about the BTN deputy director and the two principals and Perkasa ?
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