PM says religious understanding key to resolving rows

At the main VIP table (from left to right) Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan (Ikim); Daozhang Tan Hoe Cheiow (president, Federation of Taoist Association of Malaysia); R.S. Mohan Shan (president, Malaysian Hindu Sangam); Bishop Ng Moon Hing (chairman, Christian Federation of Malaysia); Datuk Ahmad Ismail (deputy chairman, Allied Coordinating Committee of Islamic NGOs); Tan Sri Koh Tsu Koon; Najib; Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom; Datuk Ilani Isahak (coordinator, Committee to Promote Understanding and Harmony Among Religious Adherents); Rev. Thomas Philips (president, Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism); Seck Jit Heng (president, Malaysian Buddhist Society); Harcharan Singh (president, Malaysian Gurdwara Council); Datuk Azman Amin Hassan (director-general, Department of National Integration and Unity). — Picture by Choo Choy May

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 22 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that religious tension and conflict remained major challenges to his administration’s efforts in nation-building but reaffirmed his commitment to resolving these differences.

“As the head of government, I give my full support to this committee,” the prime minister vowed openly at a luncheon with leaders of Malaysia’s diverse religions here, referring to his Cabinet-approved Committee to Promote Understanding and Harmony Among Religious Adherents.

In a thinly-veiled reference to the dispute between Muslims and Christians tussling over the right to use “Allah”, Najib stressed the need for religious understanding.

He noted that social and economic development was not enough to make a nation strong if it was beset with emotional problems due to cultural, religious and ethnic differences.

“We have a strong basis to establish a strong nation called Malaysia,” Najib said, suggesting the country had the right make-up to prove that religious, ethnic and cultural differences did not necessarily lead to extremism and violence but could co-exist in peace and harmony, if it could overcome the present set of tensions.

He pointed out that unlike other nations such as Bosnia, North Ireland and even the US, Malaysia had steered clear of serious ethnic, cultural clashes since independence, barring the bloody race riots in 1969.

“It can be said we have lived in peace, harmony and mutual respect for each other for the past 53 years,” he said, attributing the success to the “formula” of inclusiveness established by the nation’s founding fathers and enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

But he acknowledged Malaysia had its own set of issues and made a thinly-veiled reference to the dispute between Muslims and Christians for the right to use the word “Allah” in worship.

Najib stressed the need for religious understanding and called on the religious leaders present today to help promote knowledge and understanding on their different faiths.

“The root cause of tension and conflict in the world is ignorance,” he said.

“There can never be any transformation without any national unity and harmony,” Najib ended his speech to loud applause.

The ‘muhibbah’ luncheon hosted by the PM is the first time since independence in 1957 the federal government has openly courted the nation’s religious leaders for help in nation-building.

Over 100 leaders representing the six major faiths – Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism – turned up and were observed mingling freely with each other as they shared their meal.

Leaders from the minority beliefs, such as Baha’i, were also feted by the PM.

Institute of Islamic Understanding (Ikim) director-general Datuk Nik Mustapha Nik Hassan who shared the top VIP table with Najib and members of the Cabinet’s faith panel, told The Malaysian Insider that informal gatherings like today’s luncheon was a good way to narrow the religious gap.

“We need more meetings like this. We need the personal touch. It can break the ice, even among people of the same faith,” the Muslim scholar said.

Brother Augustine Julian, representing the Catholic Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur, said he found the PM’s speech prioritizing spirituality “encouraging”.

“All the while, the country has been focusing on economic, social development. This is the first time he’s been putting stress on religious issues.

“That’s the kind of stuff we’ve not heard of for a long time,” the Catholic monk told The Malaysian Insider.