EXTREMISM in all manner and forms, which is hijacking the international agenda and threatening peace and prag matism, must be defeated by moderation before a more peaceful, secure and equitable world can be attained.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak urged nations to reclaim the centre and moral high ground from extremists who had somehow hijacked the international agenda.
This, he added, was a matter of great urgency and should be given priority, for time was not on their side.
“It is time for moderates of all countries and religions to take back the centre, to reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism, and to marginalise the extremists,” he said in his inaugural address at the 65th United Nations General Assembly.
Najib urged the building of a “Global Movement of the Moderates” from all faiths to work together to combat extremism that was holding the world hostage with bigotry and bias, and to save the world from sinking into the abyss of despair and depravation.
"Across all religions, we have inadvertently allowed the ugly voices of the periphery to drown out the many voices of reason and common sense.
“We must choose moderation over extremism. We must choose negotiations over confrontation. We must choose to work together and not against each other.”
The rise in Islamophobia, for instance, was affecting the efforts to promote peace and harmony in some parts of the world.
Similarly, attempts to demonise Islam offended 1.5 billion believers and intensified the divide between the Muslim world and the West.
“The real issue is not between Muslims and non-Muslims but between the moderates and extremists of all religions, be they Islam, Christianity or Judaism.”
Najib said in this regard, he was encouraged by a group of American Evangelical Christians that worked hard to prevent the burning of the Quran with the compelling argument that it was un-Christian to do so.
They were examples of moderates who stood up to the extremists who were trying to hijack the universal values of religions.
He also commended President Barack Obama and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg for affirming the Cordoba House project, which will include a mosque and a multifaith community centre, to be built near Ground Zero.
The project had been politicised and opposed because of suggestions that the building would celebrate the extremists who were involved in the Sept 11, 2001 attacks in New York and would tarnish the memories of those who had lost their lives.
“All countries should encourage and support initiatives that promote mutual respect and peaceful co-existence, and reject the extremists who divide us with issues that have, in the past, brought misery and hatred.”
Najib said Malaysia, for example, with its multiracial, multireligious, multicultural and democratic society, benefited from its diversity.
Although Islam was the official religion, religious practices and houses of worship coexisted in harmony.
Malaysia, which was at the crossroads of major civilisations and religions, would be well-poised to play a part in promoting religious understanding, harmony and tolerance.
Najib said he introduced 1Malaysia as a philosophy and vision that sought to bring Malaysians together by accepting diversity as a source of greater unity.
The prime minister also reaffirmed Malaysia’s unwavering support for the United Nations and the multilateral principles, and that all nations, no matter how large or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, have a common responsibility to create a better world.
The challenge of ensuring a just, equitable and durable peace could only be met with constructive engagement and dialogue.
He said Malaysia was encouraged by the efforts of the Obama administration, among others, in seeking a comprehensive and lasting solution to the Palestinian-Israeli issue.
For a resolution however, he said, among others, Israel must stop building settlements in disputed territories, Palestinians of all factions must unite, and all parties must eschew violence and ensure the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian and human rights law.
On international trade, he said the World Trade Organisation remained relevant and Malaysia believed that the Doha Round of multilateral talks must return to its original objectives to ensure free, fair and equitable trade.
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