NEW YORK: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) the moderation approach could make a valuable contribution to fragile states and international affairs including addressing extremism.
“The fight against extremism was not about Christians versus Muslims, or Muslims versus Jews, but moderates versus extremists of all religions,” he said.
Therefore, international community, needed to rally a coalition of moderates; those willing to reclaim their religion, and pursue the path to peace, he said,
During a general debate of the 69th UNGA at the United Nations headquarters, here, Friday (Saturday in Malaysia), he reiterated his call to the leading figures in all the great religious traditions to join together to ensure that religion was the source of healing and blessing, rather than conflict and destruction.
“By demonstrating moderation in the political process, we can ensure no-one is left outside society. By practising moderation in religion, we can marginalize the extremists. And by committing to moderation here at the United Nations, we can show that the world is willing to fight extremism not just with short-term military operation, but with long-term plans,” Najib said,
Training his sights on the extremists, he said the security response by the international community, and a commitment to more inclusive politics by affected countries, would remove conditions that allow extremism to take hold.
However, he cautioned that to defeat the extremists, the international community must also undermine their authority and erode their appeal.
“We must confront their propaganda. We must defeat the message that seduces the young into acts of violence. And we must address any legitimate grievances that drive people to extremism, be they political or economic,” he said.
In short, he said, the international community must win the hearts and minds of those who would serve the so-called caliph.
“The fight against the extremists must be won not just in Syria and Iraq, but in Britain, Belgium, the US – and Malaysia. We have managed to prevent extremism from gaining a foothold in our country.
“Yet even a few Malaysians have been lured by foreign terrorist fighters that led them to Iraq and Syria,” Najib said. — Bernama