Kiwanis Club of Skudai, like Kiwanis Clubs all over Malaysia, is to be commended for the noble motto to serve the children of the world.
All Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, must be united in a common Malaysian Dream to make the country a better place for our children where there is justice, freedom, unity, harmony and prosperity for all.
I have many differences with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak but I agree with his call for the Global Movement of Moderates, which he has articulated in international forums including thrice in four years in his speeches to the United Nations General Assembly.
However, Najib seems to be waging a lose battle in his call for moderation to oust extremism in Malaysia.
I call on all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, to fully endorse moderation and reject extremism in all aspects of their lives, for Malaysia must seek to be a model of multi-racial and multi-religious tolerance, harmony and understanding in an increasingly troubled world.
This has now become even more urgent with Malaysia shooting to the top 50 countries in the Global Terrorism Index 2014, rising from 91st in the 2012 Global Terrorism Index to 48th spot, when Malaysia should be one of the 40 countries in the world with no terrorism problems so as to show-case our multi-racial and multi-religious harmony, tolerance and understanding.
Recent years have seen racial and religious intolerance, hatred and extremism raising their ugly heads in the country, and this should be the concern of all Malaysians because such intolerance, hatred and extremism will spell a future of conflict and disaster for our children.
Malaysians of good sense and goodwill, who want the best for our children and our country, should not give room or opportunity for the extremists and merchants of hatred and intolerance to spread their evil teachings but should instead unite in pursuit of a common Malaysian Dream to make Malaysia a better model of multi-racial and multi-religious harmony and diversity through the path of moderation!
(Speech at the Kiwanis Club of Skudai’s 13th Grand Installation and Annual Charity Dinner at Restoran Pekin Sutera, Skudai on Thursday, 20th November 2014 at 8 pm)