Under BN, Malaysia Symbolises Moderate Islam

Here's a quiz question for you: Which country in the world is recognised as the face of moderate Islam?

• Pakistan
• Egypt
• Malaysia

If you said Malaysia, you'd be absolutely right. Thanks to the biggest foreign policy direction made under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, our nation has become a global role model for religious harmony, toleration and moderation.
This is in no small measure due to Najib's initiative, the Global Movement of the Moderates, which has been endorsed by leaders around the world, including British Prime Minister David Cameron and the then United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Najib has pointed out that the practice of moderation is key to preventing conflicts across the world, particularly those perpetrated by extremists in the name of religion. The GMM therefore offers a way forward for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and a credible alternative to global extremism.
This is particularly significant at a time when no other leader of a Muslim country has come forward to promote the moderate nature of Islam. In Najib, Malaysia has a statesman who believes strongly in moderation and its power to bring communities of different faiths and religions together.
Even the Wall Street Journal, no friend of the Prime Minister, said last September: "Mr. Najib's rejection of extremism contrasts favourably with the poisonous rhetoric emanating from some Muslim capitals..."
Najib has also walked the talk, by making a landmark trip to Gaza as the first non-Arab national leader to visit. He made it clear that if the established powers are incapable of solving the long-running Israeli-Palestinian dispute, perhaps countries like Malaysia can help.
He rightly called on the rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas to initiate talks to resolve their differences, and also urged both Israel and the Palestinians not to lose hope in reaching a peaceful solution.
The Prime Minister is the first Muslim national leader to point out that suicide bombings have no justification in Islam. Yet he has stood steadfast on the side of the Palestinian people against the abuses of Israeli occupation.
On Najib's response against the controversial film 'The Innocence of Muslims', the WSJ noted: "Actions speak louder than words, but recent unrest in the Muslim world has shown that words can wreak havoc when spoken by the powerful as incitement to violence. In the debate over Islam's soul, Mr. Najib's counsel of responding to provocation with peaceful protest is welcome."
Under Barisan Nasional, therefore, Malaysia shines brightly as an honest mediator, an Islamic country whose voice strongly advocates justice and moderation. That is a powerful combination that very few countries in the world can offer.