KUALA LUMPUR: The government plans to incorporate the “principle of moderation” in schools’ co-curriculum in an effort to maintain peace and harmony in the country.
During a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Putrajaya plans to consult leaders of all major religions in the country to discuss inculcating the principle of moderation among the younger generation, from an early age.
“If we study all religions, they have universal practices that can be applied to all. Despite our different faiths, we must stress on the value of (moderation and) togetherness – whether it is in Christianity or Buddhism – as these are good practices.
“Other leaders must be united. We are planning to (create moderation). We are planning to include this in schools’ co-curriculum,” Najib said during a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday.
He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Othman Abdul (BN-Pendang) on whether the government planned to incorporate the wasatiyyah concept in the education curricula and to gather religious scholars to discuss the concept.
Earlier, Datuk Raime Unggi (BN-Tenom), had asked on measures taken to maintain peace and harmony in the country, to enable the government to plan various programmes to improve people’s standard of living.
Najib said to achieve moderation could be a challenge, as whipping up anger and hatred in someone is easier than to instill tolerance.
The prime minister urged all leaders from across the political divide to stand united and share the same platform on the struggle to achieve moderation as a way of life.
He said the government had also lined-up the five-year strategic plan for the wasatiyyah principle from 2016 to 2020, following the cabinet’s approval of the National Wasatiyyah Policy (DWN) on Oct 21, 2016.
The five main objectives of DWN are :-
- Bolstering Malaysians’ understanding on the wassatiyah approach as the bedrock in life
- Resolving societal problems stemming from extremism, radicalism and integrity issues
- Strengthening appreciation of wasatiyyah to promote a high spirit of mutual tolerance among Malaysians
- To develop a harmonious Malaysian identity in appreciating excellent values and ethics in all aspects of life
- Inculcating moderation as a way of life in all aspects including education, economic, administration, social and politics.
Najib said the Wasatiyyah Institute of Malaysia under the Prime Minister’s Department, had been appointed as the coordinating agency in implementing the approach as a one-stop centre on all matters related to moderation.
“Therefore, the wasatiyyah concept which is based on moderation, stability, excellence and fairness, is an important practise so that Malaysians would not be trapped in the threats of terrorism, extremism and Islamophobia.
“The concept to be practised universally had now become more relevant,” he added.
At the same time, Najib said Malaysia had been recognised as a global role model of an advanced and dynamic Islamic country.
He said when Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud agreed to set up the King Salman Centre for Global Peace in Malaysia, it was an example where Malaysia could collaborate with other countries to successfully adopt the moderation concept.
“It is obvious that the wasatiyyah (approach), which is based on the principles of moderation, balance, excellence and fairness, is important to be practised so that each and everyone in this country, will not be trapped by extremist ideology, while not being too liberal to the extent of misinterpreting the concept of jihad, as seen in the threats by IS and Daesh.
“Clearly, through the realisation of DWN, in which the agency, state and national-level wasatiyyah policy implementation coordinating committee chaired by me, the government in confident to be able to spread the approach to all levels of the community, in order to guarantee the stability and strength of Malaysia’s diversity, towards the coming TN50 generation. InsyaAllah.”
On a separate note, Najib thanked all the parties involved in rescuing and bringing home two out of five Malaysians who were kidnapped by Abu Sayyaf’s group eight months ago.
Najib said Tayudin Anjut and Abdul Rahim Summas were reunited with their respective families at his residence.
“What is important, is the Malaysian government will continue to assist both victims , right from the (medical) treatment to welfare, to ensure that their conditions will return to normalcy.
“At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude especially to the Philippine government, Sabah state government, Wisma Putra, the police, Kelab Putera 1Malaysia, for arranging the safe return of victims.”