NGOs want national leaders to be vocal against extremists
MIRI: Leaders of non- government organisations ( NGOs) say it is time national leaders speak out clearly against extremist behaviour no matter which religion or race it is related to.
President of Miri Indian Association Karambir Singh said there should be more open-minded and far- sighted leaders like the Johor Sultan Ibrahim Almarhum Sultan Iskandar.
“The Sultan of Johor’s positive stance and emphasis on religious understandings has provided a good benchmark for other leaders to emulate.
“Many times we have seen situations where there is a deafening silence on matters relating to religious and racial intolerance. Silence in this type of situations can be interpreted to mean condoning such acts of intolerance,” said Karambir to The Borneo Post yesterday.
Karambir, who is also deputy president of Sarawak Indian Society added silence or support of intolerance as we have seen in history is a slippery slope to eventual civil strife and even in extreme cases genocide as had happened in Germany and events unfolding in Myanmar.
“The unequivocal comments by the Sultan of Johor proves to all Malaysians that we have level headed and clear minded leaders in Malaysia. More need to follow his line of thinking on such matters to ensure sustainable peace, harmony and stability in our nation,’ Karambir stressed.