YouSaid · the spoken record

Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak

lines on the record: 63
first: 2010-09-24
most recent: 2015-09-24
sittings or episodes: 4
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“When we look at the images of the desperate migrants, who are the victims of extremists or whose lives are degraded by hunger and poverty, we must see them not as strangers, but as our brothers and sisters. It is only when we see that dreadful picture of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi, who was washed ashore, and recognize our own children in that tragic boy’s innocent face that we will act as our better selves. People around the world cry out for our help. We cannot — we must not — pass on by.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“On that account, over the years, Malaysia has taken in numerous individuals fleeing war, starvation and persecution. We currently have hundreds of thousands of irregular migrants, and we took in more earlier this year, when there was a dire humanitarian situation in the Andaman Sea. I am pleased to announce today that, in order to help alleviate the current refugee crisis, Malaysia will do its share and open our doors to another 3,000 Syrian migrants over the next three years. New international solutions are needed to deal with the migration crises. The millions fleeing are people, and they are people like us. They should be of concern to us all. We must respect our common humanity. We must transcend the silos of race and faith.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The eightieth chapter of the Koran, the surah ‘Abasa, opens with God criticizing the Prophet Muhammad — whom we Muslims regard as God’s Beloved — because he frowned and turned away when one of his followers, a poor blind man, interrupted him to ask a question while he was preaching to a rich and powerful unbeliever. If God promptly rebuked the Prophet Muhammad, how much more do we — especially we the leaders of the Muslim world — stand to be rebuked by our Creator if we frown and turn away from our fellow Muslims, those who are poor and marginalized and are now fleeing Syria in massive numbers, causing social and economic distress in Europe? Are we not then partially responsible for the ensuing European hostility directed at Islam, the faith we love, and at our fellow Muslims?”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Malaysia stands ready to share its experience of upholding Islam and marginalizing extremism; of implementing the objectives of shariah, while practicing democracy; of maintaining a multi-ethnic society, where different faiths coexist and prosper; and of showing that Islam can not only succeed, but also drive progress and successful economic development. As we cooperate to solve the scourges of poverty, hatred, war and human-made and natural disasters, which have given us today’s refugee crises, we must draw from our spiritual traditions that generosity of spirit that goes beyond legal requirements.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We must look into ourselves and our own traditions to create new mechanisms. We believe that moderation is key. Moderation is not about being weak. On the contrary, it shows courage and strength — the strength to push for peace and put the people first. It is a principle that runs through all civilizations and faiths. Islam embodies it in the concept of wasatiyyah and Confucianism as chung yung. Both translate as the middle path or the golden mean. It is a principle that we must rediscover. At the twenty-sixth Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia in April, we reaffirmed our commitment to such an approach, when we adopted the Langkawi Declaration on the Global Movement of Moderates.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Reforming the Security Council so as better to reflect the realities of 2015, rather than those of 1945, represents a good start in building a new and adequately responsive global architecture. 15-29658 33/55 A/70/PV.22 01/10/2015 We in Malaysia know how much that is needed. We were extremely disappointed that the proposed Council resolution to set up an international tribunal on the matter of the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH-17 was not adopted because the right of veto was used. We will continue to seek justice through other legal options, because we owe it to the families of those who perished in that outrageous crime. But whether it be reforming the United Nations, combating extremism or dealing with migration, greater mutual effort is necessary.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“When asked to describe the Torah in a nutshell, he said, “That which is despicable to you, do not do to your fellow”. That dictum, known universally in all religions as the Golden Rule, could herald the dawn of a much needed revitalized relationship between Muslims and Jews. Currently Israel is exerting its authority over Islam’s third holiest site, in defiance of the jurisdiction of King Abdullah of Jordan, its lawful custodian. It is, therefore, Israel’s duty to facilitate the visits of Muslims from all over the world. For that is an aspiration held by all devout Muslims that they pray to realize in their lifetime. Putting people first will not always be easy, but the problems of today require new and global solutions. As a member of the Security Council, Malaysia will continue to raise such issues.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The frustration and anger felt by the Palestinians resonates with Muslims worldwide. If the world continues to turn a blind eye to their suffering, we risk another catastrophe in the occupied Palestinian territory. We will also fail to uphold the right to self- determination, which was one of the founding principles of the United Nations when it was created 70 years ago. On that note, given the violations of the Al-Aqsa Mosque that took place on Rosh Hashanah in Jerusalem this year and the aggression against its worshippers three weeks ago, I call on the Israeli Government to live up to Judaism’s highest ethical principles and, in particular, to the essential message of the Torah, as succinctly expressed by the sage Hillel of the first century before the Common Era.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“If our citizens’ lives are threatened by the possible bombing of a mall or a railway station, we would be negligent in our duty if we did not intervene before it was too late. The year 2015 has given us examples of inspiring new approaches. For instance, the United States restored diplomatic relations with Cuba. That was a historic achievement and an exemplary display of moderation in action. It took courage. It would not have happened had those wishing to cling to old political divisions held sway. Forward-thinking leaders put their people’s interests first. Similar courage is needed to permanently address the injustice that the Palestinians have suffered since 1948. Decades of impunity and the systematic dehumanization of Palestinians has culminated in increasing violence, illegal settlements and violations of rights.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We have identified 39 Malaysians who have travelled to join the so-called Islamic State, and we have arrested more than 100 of our citizens suspected of links to the so-called Islamic State. Those threats are real. There are people who want to bring terror to our streets. We will not stand for it, and they will not succeed, for Malaysia has been and will always be a land where many faiths and ethnicities freely prosper and thrive. But we must strive harder to combat the terrorist threat together. Military and intelligence services need to share information and countries need to collaborate more and dare to pre-emptively arrest as necessary. We have passed legislation to enable that. When the evidence is irrefutable, we will take action unhesitatingly.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Let no one doubt how seriously Malaysia regards the problem of militants, both those who wish to use Kuala Lumpur as a transit point and those who wish to sow violence and destruction at home. Much of our work on that problem cannot be revealed for security reasons. Some may be led to think that, because Malaysia has not suffered a successful terrorist attack, we do not have national security challenges. That is not the case. Our tireless and ever-vigilant security forces have intercepted many would-be IS recruits transiting through Kuala Lumpur. It is because of our efforts that those recruits have not fallen into the darkness that blights Syria and Iraq. But, unfortunately, some have.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“A true Islamic State, therefore, aids God’s divine intent to test humankind and urges us to compete in virtue, in knowledge, kindness, compassion and humility, but, crucially, it does not coerce us to do so. Those are Islam’s true principles. The so-called Islamic State knows nothing of Islam’s noble ideals, compassion or solemn duty to care for and learn about our fellow human beings. They are violating divine will. They are desecrating the name of our religion through their self-proclaimed caliphate, to which no true Muslim will pledge allegiance. That is the message that we must spread to Muslims and non-Muslims. And I call on the Umma to rise with one voice and let the world ring when we say to the so-called Islamic State that it does not represent us.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The scholars have unanimously emphasized that an Islamic State must deliver justice in all its forms, political, economic and in the courts, to its citizens. It must be based on the objectives of sharia, or maqasid sharia, which are the protection and enhancement of life, religion, intellect, property, family and dignity. An Islamic State must defend the various peoples under its rule and preserve their religions, languages and historic sites, because God commands us, “Indeed, we have made you nations and tribes, that ye may 32/55 15-29658 01/10/2015 A/70/PV.22 know one another”. God could have created us as one religious community, but in order to test us, He did not do so, and He orders us to compete with each other in being virtuous.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“We must combat the so-called Islamic State and its warped ideology by explaining why their path is un-Islamic and why their actions are evil, theologically incoherent and a travesty of Islam, which commands us to be knowledgeable, compassionate and humble. The Malaysian Government has helped to develop an important body of scholarship that does just that. An international group of Sunni and Shia scholars representing a cross-section of the global Muslim community has been convened in Kuala Lumpur. Its mission is to define an Islamic State, based on the continuity of Islamic religious thought through the past 14 centuries. Such a State is nothing like the entity in Syria and Iraq that usurps that name.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“The Kaaba was built by the prophet Abraham for the worship of the one true God, and later generations added the idols. The Prophet Muhammad was commanded to purify the Kaaba of those idols for its use by his followers and to bring it back to its original form. The historical sites being destroyed by the so-called Islamic State were never used for the worship of the one God and then later desecrated, so the argument for destroying them does not and cannot apply. Moreover, God informs us that the sites that we travel to and that denote past civilizations, some of which were global super-Powers in their time but are that no longer, are signs that remind us not to be arrogant, but to walk the earth humbly.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“It urges the pursuit of knowledge and stresses both justice and compassion. As the Prophet Muhammad said, you will not enter paradise until you have faith, and you will not complete your faith until you love one another as you love yourselves. That means that there should be no strife among Muslims, including between Shia and Sunni, who may take different paths but seek the same destination. Islam condemns the destruction of historical sites that are part of the world’s cultural heritage. The lies of the so-called Islamic State include the claim that it is their duty to destroy historical sites, because the Prophet Muhammad destroyed the idols that had been introduced into the Kaaba in Mecca. That reasoning is based on a false analogy.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Central to that effort is a reaffirmation of Islam’s true nature, because we must acknowledge that, at the moment, we are not winning the propaganda war against the so-called Islamic State. Its twisted narrative is not being countered in a way adequate to preventing many misguided people from joining or supporting it from afar. So it is more important than ever that we spread awareness about authentic Islam, most especially when conflicts persist and people lose hope. For it is there that extremism finds fertile soil. And those who fight for extremism, for a perversion of true Islam, are among the main drivers of the current migration crisis in the Middle East. Islam unequivocally prohibits the killing of civilians during war. It explicitly protects minorities and respects those of other faiths.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“Experts in social media recruit followers in faraway countries, luring them with false promises and persuading many young people that their barbaric actions will bring them closer to God. That is sickening, and there can be no greater a slur on Islam, which is a religion of peace, moderation and justice. But those extremists cannot be defeated by traditional military means alone. Five years ago, I stood before the Assembly and called for a global movement of moderates, a movement of all religions, of all countries, to marginalize extremists, to reclaim the centre and reshape the agenda in the direction of peace and pragmatism. We in Malaysia have followed up, both through practical action and by building intellectual capacity.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“I would like to congratulate Mr. Mogens Lykketoft on his election as President of the General Assembly at its seventieth session. His experience and wisdom will be an invaluable guide to the Assembly. The theme of this session, “The United Nations at 70: the road ahead for peace, security and human rights”, is timely. We urgently need to find new approaches and to rise above the political divisions and put people first in an age when the old ways are proving inadequate to the challenges we face today. We are a world of nation States, but the new conflicts and threats that imperil our peace and security do not recognize borders. Non-State actors, such as the so-called Islamic State, threaten to destroy sovereign States. They do not confine their acts of horrific cruelty within official boundaries.”
2015-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 70 (2015)
“When 70 prisoners of war were captured during the Battle of Badr, for example, the Prophet Muhammad was urged to slay them. The Prophet not only protected the lives of innocent civilians, he also spared enemy combatants. It is that spirit of understanding and compassion that we should continue to embrace and espouse. Now is the time to advance a vision of peace and moderation. Let us call for a global community of understanding. Let us prove that we can honour the words of the Prophet and build balanced and just societies, where different faiths live and prosper in peace. Let us show that Muslims, united in faith, can be a powerful force for progress, knowledge and justice, as we were in the greatest periods of our history, as we can be today, and as we will be tomorrow.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It must protect and further the six objectives of Islamic law: the right to life, religion, family, property, dignity and intellect — the same universal rights that are enshrined in the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights. The so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq and the methods used to declare it have violated every single one of those objectives. It is therefore neither Islamic nor a State. Individuals, religious leaders and nations have said that and must continue to do so and to advocate for Islamic principles within a framework of tolerance, understanding and peace.That, after all, is the true nature of Islam; a religion of peace that values coexistence, mutual comprehension and learning, even in times of struggle.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We must continue to make the case that the moderate path is the righteous path — the path that Allah set out for us when he said, “we have made you into a community that is moderate, justly balanced” (ibid., II:143). We must confront the myth that committing atrocities in the name of an Islamic State is an act of faith and that death in the service of that aim brings martyrdom. The extremists use that distorted narrative as a recruitment tool. To counter that deception, Muslims should work together to promote a greater understanding of what a true Islamic State means. An international conference of scholars of Islamic law, convened by my Government to define the true meaning of an Islamic State, agreed that for a State to be called Islamic, it must deliver economic, political and social justice.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“They reach out to a people in search of a State. The fact that some answer that call is testament to our failure. We have failed to uphold a vision of moderate and inclusive Islamic development and to tackle isolation in our own communities.The fight against extremists must be won not just in Syria and Iraq but also in Britain, Belgium, the United States and Malaysia. We have managed to prevent extremism from gaining a foothold in our country. Yet even a few Malaysians have been lured by foreign terrorist fighters, who led them to Iraq and Syria. Countries must educate, include and, where necessary, confront those at risk of radicalization. Our religious leaders must continue to show that faith and society are best aligned under a just rule of law.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Their plight is one of the most effective rallying calls for those who claim that the international system is broken. Let us therefore unite to find a peaceful, just and lasting outcome that brings dignity and security to the people of Palestine. That should be predicated on a two-State solution based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. That will bring dignity and security for the people of Palestine, who have suffered so much, and will allow us to redouble our efforts to bring peace to other parts of the world where conflict fuels extremism. We must also understand why those militants succeed in drawing people to their cause. The extremists call upon Muslims to pledge their allegiance to their self-proclaimed caliphates in Syria and Iraq, in Nigeria and Somalia and in Kenya and Libya.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“That means building sustainable economies that bring opportunities for our young people and addressing legitimate concerns that drive radicalization. Malaysia, like so many countries around the world, was appalled by the brutal violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza. We strongly condemn Israel’s disproportionate and indiscriminate attacks on Gaza and its continuing violations of international and human rights law. The use of heavy weapons in civilian areas and the obliteration of houses, mosques and schools were an affront to common decency. We condemn such acts not just for the innocent lives taken but for the message that they send, namely, that religions cannot coexist and that the international community cannot enforce international law and protect the rights of Palestinians.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The security response of the international community and a commitment to more inclusive politics on the part of affected countries will remove two of the conditions that allow extremism to take hold. However, in order to defeat the extremists, we must undermine their authority and erode their appeal. We must confront their propaganda. We must defeat the message that seduces young people into acts of violence. And we must address any legitimate grievances that drive people to extremism, be they political or economic. In short, we must win the hearts and minds of those who would serve the so-called caliph. That is the work of a generation. To begin, we should focus on the real-world conditions that allow disillusion to grow.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We need to rally a coalition of moderates — those willing to reclaim their religion and pursue the path to peace. I therefore reiterate my call on the leading figures in all the great religious traditions. Let us join together to ensure that religion is the source of healing and blessing rather than conflict and destruction. In that respect, I welcome Pope Francis’s visit to Palestine and his efforts to bring moderate Palestinians and Israelis together to pray for peace. By demonstrating moderation in the political process, we can ensure that no one is left outside society. By practising moderation in religion, we can marginalize the extremists. By committing to moderation here at the United Nations, we can show that the world is willing to fight extremism not just with short-term military operations but with long-term plans.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“It is a philosophy that we have applied when acting as an honest broker in peace processes in the southern Philippines and elsewhere. It is a principle that we will pursue as we chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) next year, when it forms the 600-million strong ASEAN Community, with greater political security and economic and sociocultural integration. In the coming weeks, Malaysia will work with all interested partners to move the moderation agenda forward at the United Nations. That work informs our bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the coming term. The moderation agenda involves us all. The fight against extremism is not about Christians versus Muslims or Muslims versus Jews but moderates versus extremists of all religions.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Malaysia stands ready to share its experience in marginalizing extremism, in maintaining a multireligious country, where different faiths coexist and prosper, and in showing that Islam can not only succeed but also drive progress and development in a pluralistic society. Like all nations, we have had our growing pains. Stability is never permanent. It must be actively maintained. But in Malaysia, there are streets in which mosques, temples and churches stand side by side. Ours is a society in which religions may differ, but they do so in peace, in the knowledge that we are all citizens of one nation. We believe that such a moderate approach can make a valuable contribution to fragile States and international affairs alike.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“The emergence of such militants is a symptom of political failure, of poor governance in fragile States and the conflict that still rages between Sunni and Shia. We must break the cycle where one group gains power only to wield it against the other, and where marginalization leads to radicalization, as people lose confidence in the State’s ability to provide both security and coexistence. Individuals and ethnic and religious groups need to feel that they have a stake in a nation’s success, not its failure. We should therefore commit to more inclusive politics. That is a difficult task. It demands pragmatism and compromise and must come from within.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“In its place, we must advance the true Islam — the Islam founded on the principles of peace, tolerance and respect, as set out in the Koran, the Sunna and the Hadith. There are key things we must do. First, security and statehood must be returned to the people of Syria and Iraq. Malaysia co-sponsored Security Council resolution 2178 (2014) on foreign terrorist fighters to strengthen our commitment to galvanizing international action to combat terrorism. We call on the international community to stop the flow of money and recruits to extremist groups. We continue to offer humanitarian assistance under the ambit of the United Nations or internationally recognized bodies to those who are displaced by the fighting. Attacks on militant targets should, at all cost, avoid collateral damage. Secondly, we must pursue a different kind of politics.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Yet the Koran states: “There shall be no compulsion in religion” (The Holy Koran II:256). They are being forced from their homes and forced to convert to Islam. Yet the Koran says: “To you be your religion, and to me my religion” (ibid., CIX:6). If they do not comply, they face death. Yet the protection of life is a fundamental precept of Islamic law, and the killing of civilians, even in war, is prohibited in Islam. The question is: How should we respond? In the past, when the world mobilized to fight extremists, we launched wars without planning for peace. We attacked one evil only to see a greater evil emerge. This time must be different. This time, we must defeat not only the extremists but also their ideas. We must confront the heresy of a State conceived by ungodly men and enforced through violence.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“We reject the so-called Islamic State. We reject such a State defined by extremism. We condemn the violence being committed in the name of Islam. Around the world, Muslims have watched in despair as our religion — a religion of peace — has been used to justify atrocities. We have turned away in horror at the crucifixions and the beheadings. We have mourned the sons who have been stolen and the daughters who have been sold. We know that the threat to world peace and security is not Islam but extremism — intolerant, violent and militant extremism. The actions of those militants are beyond conscience and belief. They violate the teachings of Islam, the example set by the Prophet Muhammad and the principles of Islamic law. As we speak, some Syrians and Iraqis are being forced to abandon their faith.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Now those two forces — violent extremism and religious intolerance — have joined hands beneath a black flag. Two countries fractured by war face a new threat — a self-declared Islamic State. Its victims are Sunni and Shia, Yazidi and Kurd — anyone who will not bow before the sword. That so-called State, torn from existing nations with violence, rules by violence. Its authority is maintained by forced conversions and public executions. Its militants have destroyed lives and communities. They have destabilized fragile nations and threatened regional security. Yet their dark ambition stretches further still. They challenge the very notion of the State. They call to our youth with the siren song of illegitimate jihad. They demand that all Muslims swear allegiance to their so-called caliph. That demand will never be met.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“Men and women continue to risk their lives searching the deepest oceans. We owe them our gratitude and our commitment. We will not give up the search. We are also grateful to our international partners that are working together to investigate the loss of Flight MH-17. Malaysia will continue to seek justice for those who died. We urge all parties to continue to cooperate with the investigation. We also hope that those two tragedies will change the global aviation system for the better and that nations will unite behind new standards for aircraft tracking and overflying conflict zones. Four years ago, I stood before the General Assembly and called for a global movement of moderates to counter extremism (see A/65/PV.19). Last year, I spoke of the conflict between Sunni and Shia that is tearing the Muslim world apart (see A/68/PV.18).”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“I would like to begin by congratulating the President on his election. His wisdom and experience will stand him in good stead as he guides the General Assembly. I would like to pay tribute to the health workers who are fighting Ebola in West Africa. Malaysia was able to contribute more than 20 million rubber gloves to help the doctors and nurses who are working to stop the outbreak. Our prayers are with them. I also wish to thank all those who came to Malaysia’s aid in this difficult year. Flights MH-370 and MH-17 were tragedies that will stay with us forever. As we mourn the loss of life, we take heart from the compassion shown by our friends. Their support will not be forgotten. We thank our friends and allies who are giving their time and their resources to help find Flight MH-370.”
2014-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 69 (2014)
“With guns to their heads, the Sunnis on the bus refused to identify the Shia passengers whom the gunmen wanted to kill. In their defiance, we see the true measure of courage and the true test of faith. Under unimaginable pressure, facing the greatest possible threat, they chose to stand with their brothers and sisters. They chose unity over division. Faced with unimaginable pressure, and the greatest possible threat, we must summon the will to do the same.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We must create economies in which people can fulfil their own aspirations, not those of extremists. By acting to solve our most difficult political problems, we can bring an end to the immediate suffering in Syria, in Palestine and in the wider world. By committing to the cause of moderation, Muslims can secure something even greater. We can reclaim our religion, choosing harmony and acceptance over division and conflict, and we can broadcast a vision of Islam as it is understood by Muslims around the world — as a religion of peace, tolerance and moderation. Last month, when militants attacked those buses in Pakistan, a 19 year-old Sunni student named Ghulam Mustafa stood up for such a vision. Confronting the Sunni gunmen, he said killing Shiites was wrong. Ghulam was shot dead, but his life was not lost in vain.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We fervently hope that progress towards a viable Palestinian State, based on pre-1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital, will be made, and that the United States and other members of the Quartet will continue to play their role as honest brokers in the process. Only with peace can there be development and dignity for the Palestinian people. Finally, we should continue to focus on building stronger and more prosperous societies predicated on the rule of law and the practice of democracy. The Arab Spring showed that the Muslim world is crying out for change. Governments must answer that call. We must provide good governance to fight corruption, create jobs to tackle poverty, and deliver sustainable growth that builds a world of opportunity for our citizens.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“We cannot underline strongly enough the need for a Syrian-led inclusive political process. Malaysia is against any unilateral action to resolve the conflict. All sides must come together to work out a political settlement. We welcome the recent United States-Russia framework agreement, condemn without reservation the use of chemical weapons, and call on the international community to intensify its efforts to explore all possible diplomatic options for peace under the auspices of the United Nations. We must also find the vision and political will to commit to a just solution for Palestine.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“All countries should reinforce their commitment to the principles of moderation, not just in religion, but for sustainable development and stable economic growth. Moderation can also direct regional policy. It sits at the heart of Malaysia’s efforts to bring peace to the southern Philippines and to Thailand’s restive South. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which endorsed the Global Movement of Moderates, has made a commitment to the peaceful settlement and non-use of force in territorial disputes. At the international level, moderation can guide our approach to the great global challenges of our age: violent extremism, sustainable development and equitable growth. Secondly, we should give our all to resolve the political problems that raise tensions in the Muslim world, starting with Syria.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Our task therefore is to reclaim our faith by articulating clearly the true nature of Islam as a religion of peace, moderation and tolerance. We should speak that message clearly so that all may hear it and stand firm against the minority who use Islam to further violent and unjust ends. We should not mistake moderation for weakness. To face those baying for violence and call instead for calm is a sign not of frailty, but of strength. Muslim leaders should speak up and condemn such violence, lest their silence be mistaken for acceptance. Moderation can be practiced at the national level, as it is in Malaysia, by choosing mutual respect and inclusivity and strengthening the bonds between different communities and faiths.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It is time to end the killing; it is time to concentrate instead on building a common agenda for peace and prosperity. There are two things we can do. First of all, I believe that peace-loving Muslims — the overwhelming majority of Muslims — should unite against the extremists who use our religion as an excuse to commit violence. And one of the most powerful tools we have to do so is al-wasatiyyah — the practice of moderation. The Holy Koran says that “we have made you into a community that is justly balanced” (ibid., II:143). This concept of balance and moderation, of social justice within our faith, is a central tenet of Islam. It asks of us that we hold to the principles displayed by the Prophet Muhammad in the Medina Charter.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“It says “And if they incline to peace, then incline to it and rely upon Allah” (The Holy Koran, VIII:61) and that “whoever kills a soul, unless for a soul or for corruption in the land — it is as if he had slain mankind entirely” (ibid., V:32). It also holds that “there shall be no compulsion in religion” (ibid., II:256). It should come as no surprise that there is no scriptural basis for the atrocities being committed in the name of Islam. Under the six higher objectives of Islamic law, the first and foremost is the protection and preservation of life. Yet even during Ramadan, our holy month, when contemplation, devotion and compassion reign uppermost in Muslim minds, the extremists would not stop. More than 4,400 people died this Ramadan in Syria, 371 in Iraq and 120 in Pakistan. This is a burden we can no longer afford to bear.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“In Pakistan, bombings have wrecked the city of Quetta, killing hundreds. Revenge attacks spread to Lahore and bombs have been detonated in Karachi. In August, militants ambushed buses, dividing the passengers according to belief. Those who answered incorrectly were executed. Each of these conflicts has a distinct cause, but they follow a darkly familiar path: emboldened by political failures, radical preachers and militant groups turn civil conflicts into wider religious wars. Yet the preaching of such violence is completely counter to the Islamic faith. The Holy Koran not only condemns suicide, unjust war and retribution by force; it also makes clear the Prophet’s desire for Muslims to live in peace with one another and their neighbours.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Last month, after car bombs killed dozens in Beirut, 42 people died in explosions outside Sunni mosques. Communities are dividing along religious lines, with hard-line preachers urging violence between Sunni and Shia. Meanwhile, the security situation in Iraq continues to unravel, as Sunni extremist groups and Shia militia struggle for control. Over the past four months, nearly 3,000 people have been killed. In the past week alone, three funerals have been bombed in Baghdad. Women and children have been blown apart while mourning. Again, the violence is carried out between Sunni and Shia. In one Iraqi town, four children from one Shia family were slain with knives. In another, local people — neighbours for generations — have built blast walls to keep themselves apart. Forced displacements are growing.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“By reaffirming our commitment to moderation and solving the political problems that drive instability, we can seize back the centre ground. We can marginalize the extremists and advance an agenda for peace, harmony and justice. Around the world, Muslims have watched in despair as conflict tears into some of our oldest communities. Rarely in our history has the Ummah faced violence on this scale. Right now, the world’s attention is rightly focused on Syria. United Nations investigators have concluded that the focus of the war has shifted along ethnic and religious lines and become overtly sectarian. A conflict that began with anti-Government protests threatens to descend into a war of ethnic cleansing. With fighters from Hizbullah engaging on Syrian soil, the conflict now threatens Lebanon, too.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“The conflict between Sunni and Shia threatens the lives and livelihoods of millions of Muslims. Our religion, which was founded on peace and premised on tolerance, is now being twisted by extremists who are deploying false arguments to foster division and justify violence. Across the Islamic world, extremists are wrapping their perverse agenda in religious cloth, tearing families, countries and the Ummah apart. With each new atrocity, tensions are wound tighter and peace seems further away. The corrosive influence of extremism cannot be countered easily, but we are not too powerless to act. I believe that moderation in religion and the political process can stem the loss of life and liberty in the Muslim world. Behind the tragic violence, there is a battle being waged for the future of Islam.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Out of the heat of the Arab Spring, new questions arose about the pace of democratic change, the role of Islam in politics, and the need for more inclusive development. But the search for answers to those questions has been put on hold. As authoritarian regimes have fallen, and Governments have been swept away by political change, extremists have tried to fill that space. Motivated by ideology, politics and religion, they have sought refuge from the hard work of development in the unholy practice of violence. Conflicts have spilled across borders, inflaming old tensions and igniting new ones. All over the world, extremism is claiming lives and crushing opportunity. This affects all of us, but it is one people of one faith who suffer the most. I believe the greatest threat to Muslims today comes not from the outside world, but from within.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)
“Allow me to begin by congratulating the President of the General Assembly on his election. I offer him Malaysia’s full cooperation and support as he seeks to further the cause of peace and prosperity. Three years ago, I stood before the General Assembly and called for a global movement of moderates (see A/65/PV.19). It was a call to reject extremism in all its forms, because the real divide is not between East and West or between the developed and developing worlds or between Muslims, Christians and Jews. It is between moderates and extremists of all religions. Much has changed since 2010, when a current of protest and reform surged through the Middle East and North Africa.”
2013-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 68 (2013)