GMMF Expresses Concern Over Twin Blasts In Jakarta, Siege Of Marawi City In Philippines

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 (Bernama) -- The Global Movement of Moderates Foundation (GMMF) is deeply concerned and saddened by the deadly suicide bombings at the Kampung Melayu Transjakarta bus terminal in Indonesia, Wednesday night. "We are equally concerned by the siege of Marawi City in the Philippines by the Maute group, which has seen dozens of gunmen occupying city halls, releasing inmates, and the burning of places of worship," its executive chairman and chief executive officer, Dr Nasharudin Mat Isa said in a statement. He said that in keeping abreast of developments through its regional partners and contact experts in both nations, GMMF sent its heartfelt prayers to both the people and leaders of the Republic of Indonesia and the Philippines. According to reports, two suspected suicide bombers killed three Indonesian police officers and injured 10 people on Wednesday night in twin blasts at a bus terminal in the eastern part of the Indonesian capital. The blasts went off five minutes apart at Jakarta’s Kampung Melayu bus terminal, police said. Five officers and five civilians were wounded. Nasharudin said these horrific terrorist attacks, which took place shortly after the tragic Manchester suicide bombing, only served to highlight the need for the 'Global Movement of Moderates' to continue apace in promoting the voice of moderation and peace to be cherished by all, irrespective of religion, ethnicity, culture or community against such acts of terrorism. In the Manchester incident on Monday evening, 22 people were killed and 59 others injured when a suicide bomber detonated a homemade device that tore through the foyer of Manchester Arena as people left following a pop concert. In the Philippines, according to Al Jazeera, priest and several churchgoers have been taken hostage by fighters in Marawi City on the island of Mindanao, as thousands of residents fled the ongoing unrest that prompted President Rodrigo Duterte to declare martial law in the southern region. In the statement, Nasharudin also quoted the words of GMMF founder-patron, Prime Minister, Najib Razak: "We must choose negotiations over confrontation. We must choose to work together and not against each other. And we must give this effort utmost priority for time is not on our side" - for this region, or any other, cannot allow for such extremist groups and ideologies to have any semblance of opportunity to gain a foothold in our society." GMMF is an initiative by Malaysia to introduce a moderate approach. Najib first mooted the idea of creating a ‘Global Movement of Moderates’ (GMM) during the United Nations General Assembly on Sept 27, 2010 and the concept has received worldwide acclaim. -- BERNAMA