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Old 28-10-2015, 11:15 AM   #44
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Build mutual trust, Najib tells religious leaders and followers
BY RAZAK AHMAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Religious leaders and followers are urged to make a firm commitment to promote a culture of tolerance among Malaysians, which will enable society to set aside its divisions.

“Religious leaders and followers must work hand in hand to build mutual trust, respect, understanding and co-operation because they are critical for the peace and security we all seek,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He called on Malaysians to be willing to listen to each other with open minds and open hearts.

“If we can do this, instead of emphasising points of contention among religions, we can focus more on what we have in common,” he said in his speech at the opening of an international seminar on “Religion and Peaceful Co-existence: Accepting Differences and Upholding Values” organised by the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim).

Religious leaders, scholars and inter-faith activists from various countries, including Malaysia, Turkey, Brunei, Thailand and Australia, are taking part in the two-day seminar, which will end today.

Also present at the opening ceremony was Ikim chairman Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Najib said that Islam, for instance, was a religion that respected cultural and religious diversity.

At the heart of Islamic teachings is an eternal message of justice and compassion, of equality and humanity, and of peace and solidarity.

The Prime Minister said that the values promoted by many religions have much in common.

“We should embrace these in the interests of all, rather than quibble and magnify the differences to serve political or strategic agendas.

“One way we can achieve peaceful co-existence in Malaysia and elsewhere in the world is to accept that there are differences in various religions, and then to come to a common realisation: that we can agree to disagree,” he said.

On the importance of wasatiyyah or moderation, Najib said that without this principle, Malaysian society would easily fall prey to extremism that would result in radicalisation such as the Islamic State (IS).

Najib added that in adopting the wasatiyyah, which carried the message of justice, doing good and being steadfast as well as rejecting all forms of evil, the different religions in Malaysia can act as bridge-builders to promote national harmony

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The racist asking people to be harmonious. Roti Cinai satu!
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