‘Nations must cooperate to find solution to extremism’
KUALA LUMPUR: The international community should sit down and identify the root cause of extremism to find a comprehensive and lasting solution to all forms of terrorism, including the ongoing atrocities against the Rohingya Muslim community in Myanmar.
Kuala Lumpur International Youth Discourse 2016 (KLIYD) chairman Khairul Azwan Harun said world governments needed to stop working in silos and adopt a more holistic approach to defeat global terrorism.
“There are extremists in many different forms. Recently, and most pressingly, we have witnessed statesponsored terrorism in Myanmar,” he said in his opening remarks at the inaugural event.
“Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims perished under state ignorance. The deafening silence by the international community is telling,” he said.
Khairul Azwan said despite living in the longest era of global peace and security, the international community was living in a state of constant fear.
“While the traditional security threats have subsided, non-traditional threats, especially from non-state actors, have been rising constantly.”
He said the threat of lone-wolf attacks, mass cyberattacks and territorial occupation by the Islamic State had left many countries under siege.
“The attacks in many capitals worldwide remind us of the fact that we must work together to defeat terrorism and extremism.
“Many times, world leaders called for us to stand together, but it seems too little progress has been made.”
He said Malaysia was at the forefront in the fight against terrorism, with its military and police working hand in hand patrolling borders and thwarting terror threats.
“Our region has not been exempted from these acts of terror. From the bombing in Bangkok to the explosions in the streets of Jakarta, these extremist forces are deep-rooted within our communities.”
He said despite the arrests of more than 200 Malaysians with suspected links to IS, potential attacks in Malaysia were becoming increasingly difficult to pre-empt.
“Hundreds of Malaysians have travelled to Syria to fight for IS, 21 of whom have died in combat.
“The challenge now lies in how to deal with the returning fighters.”
He said terrorist acts committed by Muslims had fuelled Islamophobia in the West, despite Muslims making up the majority of terror victims.
Present were Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Deputy Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, Razak School of Government chief executive officer Professor Dr Hamidin Abd Hamid and New Straits Times Press group managing editor Datuk Abdul Jalil Hamid.