Taib encourages promoting peace through trade
KUCHING: Promoting peace through trade and economic relations is not an ideology that is unique to Islam but is something that can be accepted by nonMuslims.
“We are living in an era where peace is very important and all of us must contribute towards that,” said Yang Di Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud when launching the International Conference on Global Peace at Kuching Hilton yesterday.
Taib said that early Islam went out with the idea of spreading peace.
“It is time to revive that approach, not with aggressiveness backed by military, but in a world that recognises the value of peace.”
Pointing out that territories under Islam prospered, Taib added that the idea of searching for peace through trade must be promoted.
“We would like to establish Asean as a zone of peace and prosperity. We are working very strongly not only between Muslim nations such as Malaysia and Indonesia, but also other nations in South East Asia.”
He also wanted to get this idea of peace permanently established in dealings between other Asian nations such as China and Korea, and take into account the necessity to safeguard peace in this part of the world.
“I think that the Chinese expansion in terms of trade has enveloped the whole world. They have invested quite a lot in Africa and South America. This will bring about new and increased volume of trade between China and all these territories. In the past, we can see direct routes between the western
It is time to revive that approach, not with aggressiveness backed by military, but in a world that recognises the value of peace.
coasts of both Americas to Asia, particularly North Asia and South East Asia We have to prepare for this change; it is already taking place.”
Muslims and Islamic ideology have a strong part to play and can be accepted by non-Muslims because there is nothing special or unique about promoting peace through trade and economic relations in Islam, he added.
The two- day conference, which began yesterday, was organised by Muslim World League together with Sarawak Islamic Council.
It aims to enhance awareness on the teachings and legacies of universal peace and non-violent traditions in Islam; the exchange views and share experiences on the root causes of conflicts, violence and extremism among and against the ummah; and to recommend strategies and approaches in promoting peace and non-violence in society.
Also present were Muslim World League secretary general Prof Dr Abdullah Abdulmuhsen Al-Turki, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman, Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Putit Matzen and Deputy State Secretary Datuk Misnu Taha.
Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Head of State