KOTA KINABALU – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has warned of a group in the country that actively seeks to undermine religious and racial harmony in pursuit of their own political dominance.
Without naming the specific group, he shared a story involving his recent visit to a church in Kajang, Selangor.
He said he had observed the negative impact of the group, which incited hatred by spreading falsehoods.
“I was invited to a church in Kajang, and there’s a cross symbol. So, they (members of the group) used a photo of me with the cross behind my back, and they said ‘this is a man who will destroy Islam in this country’... which is stupid,” he said during the Meet Anwar session held at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, here, yesterday evening.
Anwar said he was fully aware of what a Muslim should do when visiting other houses of worship.
He also said that narrow-mindedness on such matters can be solved through the cultivation of critical thinking among the people.
“We are facing a group that is desperate and who will use racial issues to undermine other races for the domination of one race, as well as religion for the domination of one religion,” said Anwar.
He said all matters can be debated by any party as long as they are based on facts, and this is why the young must have the passion to search for knowledge.
Anwar said the media must also be given freedom, while students are given the space to criticise, share their views, and rebuke the government as part of the effort to encourage critical thinking.
However, he said these should not involve insulting, slanderous and baseless attacks.
“Malaysia has many races and religions. Diversity is a strength, but for us, differences are causing confusion and creating enemies,” Anwar said. – The Vibes, June 1, 2023
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