By IRNA
Kuala Lumpur : Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Tuesday reminded Malaysians not to allow extremist tendencies to take root and undermine interracial harmony in the country.
The prime minister said the moderates should play a role in ensuring that members of the public were not swayed by extremist propaganda which played on people’s emotions by raising sensitive religious and racial issues, Bernama reported.
“I’m really concerned when issues involving religion are brought up from time to time and the attendant problems that all of us would need to address.
“If moderates don’t take centre stage, surely extremist elements will occupy it, making us fall for their extremist approach being touted as a religious or national approach,” he said.
Abdullah said this at a Christmas tea party organised by the Christian Federation of Malaysia (CFM) and Kuala Lumpur Archbishop Murphy Pakiam here.
The event was attended by about 200 guests, including Abdullah’s wife Jeanne Abdullah, Housing and Local Government Minister Ong Ka Ting, Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek, Deputy Finance Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen and Deputy Higher Education Minister Ong Tee Keat.
In his speech, Abdullah said bigger problems would crop up if unscrupulous people continued to peddle their extremist views.
The prime minister said to deal with the issue, Malaysians should manifest a high level of understanding, tolerance and respect for each other which have been the hallmarks of the multiethnic Malaysian society all this while.
“We do have a big responsibility to shoulder as we need to ensure that our country remains safe and peaceful for our own mutual benefit,” he said.
Abdullah said as a multiracial country, Malaysia had come a long way to be where it was now — a nation capable of bringing progress, peace and stability to its people, thanks to the sacrifices of all the races.
However, he said, there was a need for the people to maintain what had been achieved thus far so that the country’s development, peace and stability could be inherited by future generations.
On the tea reception, Abdullah described the muhibbah (unity) spirit shown by people of various ethnic backgrounds, who came together to join in the Christmas celebrations, as a potent symbol of friendship that should be preserved.
Meanwhile, Archbishop Pakiam was thankful that the government had always respected everyone’s religious festivals and holidays.
He said this sort of camaraderie among the races was the very basis of Malaysia’s nation-building.
The harmonious relationship among Malaysians has always been inspiring, he said.
Archbishop Pakiam said Malaysians should downplay divisive issues and instead cherish their differences as something special.