Asian political parties urged to adopt moderate path

03 Dec, 2010

PHNOM PENH: Political parties in Asia have been urged to join Malaysia’s call for a global movement of the moderates to reject the politics of hate and extremism.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Asia, as a burgeoning economic zone, could not afford any disruption or destruction caused by extremism or terror.

PM’s signature: Najib signing the plaque commemorating the opening of the new Malaysian embassy building in Phnom Penh, Cambodia yesterday. Looking on are (from left) Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Malaysian ambassador to Cambodia Datuk Pengiran Mohd Hussein Pengiran Tahir Nasruddin and Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman. – Bernama

Asian political parties had an important role to play towards this end, Najib said in his keynote address at the 6th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

He added as members of the Asian family, they had a vested interest in ensuring this region remained free and safe from ideologies espousing conflict, destruction, disunity and hostility in the name of their unholy cause.

“The forces of globalisation and the emergence of China and India as economic juggernauts have changed the way the world views Asia, and indeed how Asia views itself,” he said.

Recalling his message at the United Nations General Assembly last September, Najib said he had called for a global movement of the moderates to reclaim the moral high ground that had been usurped from them.

He had called for moderates to marginalise the extremists who had held the world hostage with their bigotry and bias.

Najib said nowhere was this more important than in Asia where in some places, cells of extremist groups continued to exist to spread their message of hate.

“I have said repeatedly that the real issue is not between Muslims and non-Muslims, but rather between extremists and moderates of all faiths be it Islam, Christianity, Judaism or Hinduism,” he said.

More than 300 senior leaders of 317 Asian political parties from 51 countries participated in the ICAPP meeting. – Bernama