As Malaysia praised for racial harmony, PM admits it's not always easy

Malaysia was praised as a model for interracial and interreligious harmony at an international forum today, only to hear from Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that preserving this peace is not without its challenges.

At the Al Sharq Forum Youth Conference in Kuala Lumpur, the think-tank's president Wadah Khanfar stressed the need for common values to bind people together.

This, Khanfar said, is especially necessary with the rise of "extreme nationalism" and xenophobia around the globe.

"We regard Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia as a great example of this kind of coexistence, tolerance and harmony among races and religions.

"And we think that this model should be introduced as a model to us everywhere," he said.

Taking the stage after Khanfar was keynote speaker Mahathir, who shared how managing such diversity was not always "pleasant."

"Most times, the differences are amplified and the similarities subdued. We have our own sets of prejudices and bigotry amid our people. 

"But by and large, we have come to accept that any attempt to champion one race or religious group at the expense of others will result in the destruction of all that we have worked hard to build," he said.

'Compromise and pragmatism'

The solution, Mahathir believes, is compromise, pragmatism and adaptability.

"We work on the principle of fairness when we realise that equality may not provide the results.

"We push for compromises when we know making everyone satisfied is not possible, and we fight bigotry and prejudicial practices with kindness and care," he said.

"Our differences in religion, race, culture and customs require us to make compromises and to be accommodating. And we learn to tolerate many things.

"Yes, some may say that it sounds good on paper, and not all that we strived for has fallen into place. 

"But it is a work in progress, and we are pragmatic enough to change our approaches when we know it is not taking us forward."

The conference, the first of its kind to be held in Southeast Asia, will run for the next two days, and will feature speeches by Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

The lineup will also include academics, business leaders and activists from around the world speaking on the theme "Own your future." - Mkini