MELAKA: Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said the Malays and Muslims must drop three ‘beliefs’ that have become the stumbling block to achieve progress.
The ‘beliefs’ are the Malays cannot do anything due to ignorance, cannot achieve success due to poverty and cannot become great due to colonialisation.
Idris said such ‘beliefs’ would make the Malays and Muslims weak and thus could be dictated by parties out to take advantage of them.
“Its time the Malays and Mjuslims prove that they can create a’moral cultural force’ that can contribute to the wellbeing of humanity and the world,” he said when opening the 14th Malay World Muslim World Convention (DMDI) here, last night.
Also present were the president of DMDI, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, the Governor of Aceh, Dr Zaini Abdullah and the Governor of Riau, Mambang Mit.
The convention is attended by about 1,000 participants from 18 countries including Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
Idris said to ensure the development of the social, political and economy of the Malays, the community should hold fast to the teachings of Islam.
At the event, award winning film director Datuk Shuhaimi Baba and famous painter Ismail Embong were awarded ‘Anugerah Penggerak Budaya dan Warisan DMDI’ for their contribution to culture and heritage.
The two-day convention was opened by Melaka Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Khalil Yaacob on Monday. — Bernama