KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is in support of the ‘Faith in the Commonwealth’ initiative, which is in line with the 'Rahmatan lil Alamin' (Mercy to all creations) concept.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof said the initiative resonates with the latter concept which was being adopted by the government.
“We support this because Islam calls for peace and the same value is being shared with the ‘Faith in the Commonwealth’ initiative.
“The concept is a universal value which can be applied to all races and religions,” he told a press conference today, which was held at the end of a working visit by Commonwealth secretary-general Patricia Scotland to Malaysia.
Scotland was in Malaysia for a working visit from Feb 9 to 15. Also present was Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council chairman Datuk Seri Syed Hussien Alhabshee.
Mujahid said Malaysia was a moderate country, where the people live in peace and harmony, despite being multi-ethnic and multi-religious.
Meanwhile, Scotland has welcomed the 'Rahmatan lil Alamin' concept, as it was in line with universal values.
“We wholeheartedly look forward to working with Malaysia on the ‘Faith in the Commonwealth’ initiative.
“We believe that we have been driven apart so often by those harbingers of hate and we are determined in the Commonwealth not to respond in a way that they expect and come together in respect of love.”
Last year, the Cabinet endorsed the country’s new Islamic administrative policy paper, based on the Rahmah principles.
Rahmah stands for six qualities: amicable (ramah), peaceful (aman), harmonious (harmoni), genial (mesra), universal (alami) and respectful (hormat).