Malaysian Muslims fortunate to celebrate in peace :PM Najib

Najib - Islam is universal

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak extended Aidilfitri greetings to all Muslims in the country, saying they had much to be thankful for to be able to celebrate the festival in peace and prosperity.

"We are free from the wars, conflicts, oppression and natural disasters which some of our brethren elsewhere in this world suffer from," he said in his Aidilfitri message to the nation.

Najib said the people had to be thankful to the past leadership of the country which had laid a strong foundation for Malaysia's success today.

"Our thanks must also go to the members of the security forces who have sacrificed their lives in the defence of the nation's independence and sovereignty. Not to be forgotten are the civil servants, teachers, workers, farmers, entrepreneurs and fishermen," he said.

He said all the efforts and sacrifices of everyone were the basis of what the people were enjoying together.

Najib said Malaysia was a democratic, cosmopolitan, multi-religious and multiracial country with Muslims making up the majority of the population.

He said that for over five decades, Malaysians had successfully faced every challenge with excellence despite the ups and downs in racial relations, including the 13 May 1969 tragedy.

The formula which enabled the people to face all these national challenges well was that Muslims in the country, since the advent of the religion in this region, had adopted the moderate approach in life, in accordance with the command of "Allah" (God), he said.

Najib said it was also this moderate approach that had enabled Malaysia to emerge as one of the most developed among the Islamic nations in the world, and had also placed the people and country on the right track towards becoming a developed and high-income Islamic nation by 2020.

The prime minister advised Muslims to check themselves from getting dragged into extremist activities and ignorance.

"If we allow these to take root, it will only mean that we are sowing the seeds of destruction to destroy everything we have built thus far," he said.

Najib said Muslims, as the majority in the population, had the moral responsibility to uphold the trust of the national leadership, a calling which he said they could not run away from.

"It demands firmness, magnanimity and composure. In fact, since independence, we have fulfilled this trust as well as we could and every generation should continue to better uphold this moral demand," he said.

Najib lamented that as a result of succumbing to desires, Islam had today become a misinterpreted religion, with assumptions which were false having become the norm, such as Islam being the religion of extremists, backward-looking and not progressive.

"Actually, the true Islamic teachings are far from these. Islam is in fact a most progressive and tolerant religion. It is universal. In fact, the Islamic way of life is most suitable for the constitution of man and it is apt for all times and situations," he said.

The prime minister said that from the time of independence, the country's leadership had realised that national unity and stability were the main prerequisites for national survival and well-being.

In this context, he said, national unity would not be sustainable unless it was founded on solid Islamic solidarity.

"When Muslims are incapable of achieving consensus in matters pertaining to religion, engage in unending polemics, and become destructive, the ambition to maintain national stability will not be possible.

"Therefore, let us fulfill our responsibility to contribute to the strengthening of national unity," he said.

Encouraging Muslims to carry on the tradition of holding "open house", he said it was the most unique Malaysian tradition, practised nowhere else in the world, where friends from various races and religions could call on Muslims without any hindrance or apprehension.

"Tear down the walls of suspicion and discard prejudices, and open wide the doors to our houses and our hearts for our friends from various races and religions on this auspicious day," he said.

Najib sought forgiveness "on behalf of myself, my wife and family for any wrongs."

"I pray to God for all Muslims to be able to celebrate this festival with joy and thankfulness together with their loved ones," he said.