SEREMBAN – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Turkiye president Recep Tayyip Erdogan suggested that Malaysia and Turkiye jointly find a way to face the issue of Islamophobia.
The prime minister said the Turkiye president had made the suggestion during a telephone conversation with him three days ago.
“He calls me often, at least once a month, to talk about various matters…he suggested both of us find a way to increase efforts to overcome the issue of Islamophobia.
“He did not ask PAS, he does not know the Bersatu president either.
“He suggested we work together, so I agreed, and I have asked him to prepare the mechanism and he proposed we meet in New York during the United Nations meeting in September,” he said when speaking at the Negri Sembilan Madani Unity Tour, here last night.
The prime minister added that the suggestion surfaced because of Malaysia’s standing in the eyes of the world and the Turkish president’s confidence towards Malaysia’s ability to fight the Western regime on the Quran-burning.
He added that Malaysia remains firm in issues related to religion and forbids any kind of insult against any religion in the country.
“Our first reaction (to Quran burnings) was to protest such and take action.
“The foreign minister called up the Swedish ambassador to remind him of (the consequences of) such acts.
“We then ordered a million copies of the Quran to be distributed throughout the world and 15,000 copies in Swedish to be sent to Sweden. That was our response,” he said.
Meanwhile, Anwar, who is also Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman said the campaigning period for state elections – involving coordination between PH and Umno and is now entering the final stage – is a new effort to strengthen the unity and safeguard the country’s status in the eyes of the world, as well as to ensure Malaysia becomes a nation that earns the respect of the entire world.
“In the discussion between PH and Umno, we decided that the principles of the constitution must be respected, PH agreed and Umno was in favour as well to save the nation and to bring change.
“We want to lift the status of Malays and others, as well as turn Malaysia into a leader in South East Asia. We need to migrate from the old ways and that is what we are doing,” he said.
Anwar also urged voters to choose leaders who are fielded by the unity government so that all races can enjoy the benefits and ensure that no race will be sidelined by anyone. – Bernama, August 9, 2023
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