PUTRAJAYA, Feb 5 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the people should not treat lightly issues pertaining to religion which can create controversy between the various religions and ethnic groups.
He said several incidents previously were seen as attempts by certain groups to jeopardise stability and racial relations in the country
"For example, the issue on the use of the word 'Allah' since early this year truly tested our wisdom in tackling the problem.
"(These included) the incident on the attempts to burn several churches and surau, and the latest was the placing of the pig's heads in the compounds of two mosques," he said at a gathering of the Prime Minister with Islamic scholars and leaders at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC), here Friday.
Also present was the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
Najib said history had shown that many of the wars and conflicts started from petty issues.
"Beware that the big and devastating fires started from embers which were not put out," he said.
The Prime Minister said everyone should understand the negative implication that could emerge from such controversial incidents.
He said the unwillingness to back down purely to defend one's ego would be detrimental to everyone and they should go back to the negotiation table to discuss with the parties concerned to resolve whatever issues there were.
"Have faith in the solidarity of 1Ummah which is achievable through understanding and mutual respect between one another," he said.
Meanwhile, Najib said diplomatic visits were certainly important in helping to resolve conflicts in other countries.
"In the efforts to fight violence, the government is committed to assist in issues concerning the Muslim minority in Non-Muslim countries, for example the situation in southern Thailand and the Philippines.
He also suggested that leaders of religious agencies in these countries initiated moves toward transformation by planning programmes which were more innovative, dynamic, contained new dimension, and more fresh.
He said he had suggested several innovative and creative approaches by having the Islamic Innovation Month and Islamic Innovation Carnival in each Umno division or Parliamentary constituency.
The Prime Minister also urged the ulama to be consistent in carrying out transformation and to understand deeply the meaning of terminologies pertaining to international, regional and national politics.
"These include those concerning globalisation, neo-colonialism or imperialism and the scale of influence of such actions on faith, culture, education, politics and the people's economy.
"Without in-depth understanding, all our efforts to face these challenges will fail or have little effects," he said.
As such, he said the ulama must become citizens of the world who were 'interconnected', most close to the latest resources, and could communicate in an intelligent and most modern manner.
Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, said the ulama should sit down together to tackle the global economic crisis, give their views, and come up with economic policies which were more fair, Islamic and protected moral and humanitarian values.
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