‘MODERATION IS A NECESSITY’

It enables us to see religion as something that unites, says PM

MODERATION is not a soft option, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday. He described moderation as something that Malaysia had to strive for to make it a part of the people’s lives, an integral part of the way they thought about other people and their actions.

“It is not only a part of our tradition. It is a necessity for us in a country with such a diversity of faith and ethnicity that we understand and appreciate the differences between us, and remember that they are in fact enriching. Indeed, they make Malaysia what it is.

“But, this will only be the case if we practise moderation, which includes acceptance, respect and true mutual understanding.

“(But) this is not always easy for everyone,” he said at the launch of Global Movement of Moderates Foundation’s (GMMF) website and two books titled The Movement of the Moderates: The Revitalisation of an Ancient Philosophy and The Movement of Moderates: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers.

Present were GMMF executive chairman and chief executive officer Datuk Dr Nasharudin Mat Isa.

This was why, Najib said, he had championed moderation or wasatiyyah.

“It is the path of the best, for moderation is the path of human perfection, an idea that is taught to us by Islam, as well as all other religions.”

He said wasatiyyah carried the message of doing good with steadfastness, justice, brotherhood and righteousness, as well as the rejection of all forms of evil such as extremism.

“It also enables us to see religion as something that unites us, rather than divides us. In Malaysia, we have Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus and members of other faiths.

“Our hearts are gladdened when our fellow countrymen of other faiths celebrate their festivals, and we wish them well. That is how it should be, and it is a manifestation of the path of moderation.”

Najib stressed the importance of being moderate by citing attacks mounted by groups allied to the Islamic State (IS) terror movement in Marawi City in the southern Philippines.

“We do not have to look far to realise the crucial importance of practising moderation.

“When we see what happened in Marawi City recently, we see the deadly effects of extremism, of groups allied to IS, which itself has brought terrible devastation to large parts of Syria and Iraq, and has inspired appalling attacks around the world.”

Najib said Malaysia was not spared from the shadow of IS’ barbarity either.

“It is only thanks to the heroic efforts of the police that 16 attacks on Malaysian soil have been foiled, including two during the Southeast Asian Games’ closing ceremony and our National Day celebrations at Dataran Merdeka.

“There was one IS-linked attack in Malaysia, in June last year. Although several were injured, mercifully no one died.”

Najib said there were many ways one could resist and combat this scourge.

“On the international level, we are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with so many other nations in the Global Coalition Against IS.

“At home, it is fortunate the government has introduced a raft of counter-terrorism legislation in the last few years, so we have not found ourselves — as some other countries have — in the position of not having the appropriate laws to deal with this scourge.

“But we can and must also combat this through the promotion of moderation. This is not just for us. This is for the younger generations, and for generations to come.”

Najib lauded the work the GMMF had been doing, which was part of the reason why Malaysia’s leadership in promoting moderation, in deradicalisation, and opposing extremism in all its forms had been recognised all over the world.

Earlier, Nasharudin said GMMF had been active in propogating the agenda and discourse of moderation worldwide.

“In essence, we have sought to entice and to appeal to all since the message of moderation transcends faiths, ethnicities, let alone age groups.”